12 Nepali Food Cuisines That You Must Try Cooking

While the majestic vistas and lavish cultural exhibition, Nepal is for the travel mongrers yearning for the most exuberant of experiences. The food experience in Nepal is equally amazing as the mountains and the culture. From the rich cultural diversity and the geographical setting of different types of people, Nepali food cuisine, although not distinguishable into one specific dish, offer not just as a basic need but represent the way of life. Some of the most popular Nepali foods have been influenced by its two neighboring countries; India and China. Looking into the Nepali menu, you will discover a variety of dishes each infused with unique spices that will leave a lingering taste. You can find a variety of dishes from different cultures. These are not just dishes with different ingredients or taste, but each dish holds a special value in its own culture.

 

Trying new cuisines is an important aspect of traveling to foreign countries. Likewise, when you visit Nepal you must try the Nepalese cuisines that our culture has to offer. If you happen to be a foodie, you might also want to learn cooking these Nepali food items that you’ve tasted. So much so that, when concerning Nepali cuisines, you can learn to cook them and boast of your culinary skills. There are cooking schools and classes available in the country to help you learn Nepali food and assist you to do so with great proficiency. Some of the key Nepali food that you must try are; Chatamari, Aloo Chop, Momo, Carrot Pudding, Mushroom Choila, Bara, Semolina Pudding, Dal Bhat, Chicken Curry etc.

 

Here is a list of 12 Nepalese delicacies you must try. These dishes will leave such a fascinating taste that you will want to learn and try cooking them yourselves too. Instructions to prepare the Nepali food items have also been briefed so that you need not take the hassle of referencing from dozens of other websites!

 

1. Chatamari-Nepalese Pizza

While walking around the Newari neighborhood alleys of Lalitpur and Kathmandu as a whole, you will encounter numerous Newari restaurants. In the menu, you will find a mandatory dish, Chatamari, a remarkable dish from the Newari culture. Popularly known as the Nepalese Pizza, the Chatamari is a savory crepe. It is round bread made of rice flour topped with different kinds of ingredients.  Some of the popular Toppings include eggs, meats, and vegetables. The main ingredients for this dish are rice flour, water, oil, salt, toppings accordingly: eggs, cilantro, onions, cheese etc.

 

The instructions to cook a Chatamari are as follows:

 

• Mix rice flour and water. (Make sure this batter is runny!)
• Let the batter rest to 10-15 minutes.
• Heat a greased non-stick pan on low heat.
• Pour about 1/2 cup of the batter (depending upon the size of the pan) to ensure it covers the pan well.
• Season it with salt. Sprinkle toppings of your choice with desired seasonings and close the lid.
• Cook on low heat for 3 minutes or so.

The basic Chatamari is cooked this way. However, people also prefer adding eggs and meat according to their preferences. The cooking procedure when using meat and eggs are similar except a layer of minced meat or eggs has to be added on top of the batter.

 

2. Aloo Chop

When you are hungry and find yourself lost amidst the busy towns, you will definitely spot Aloo chops displayed on trays at any local restaurants or food stalls. This Nepali food item is the go-to fast food throughout the country. Aloo Chops are basically fried mashed potato balls with different infused ingredients and are said to be inspired by a Bengali snack. The ingredients required for Aloo chop are potatoes, coriander powder, cumin powder, Hing, salt, chilies, gram flour, and thymes.

 

The procedure to cook Aloo Chop is:

 

• Boil and peel potatoes.
• Mix gram flour, salt, chili powder, Hing and thyme seeds in a bowl.
• Add water to this mixture and produce a batter.
• Mash the boiled potatoes and add salt, chili, coriander, and cumin powders and mix it well.
• Heat oil in a pan with some depth.
• Make a ball like structure from this mixture and dip it into the batter and dip that mixture into the oil.
• Wait till the ball is deep fried and becomes golden brown.

 

This is how you cook Aloo Chop. You can eat Aloo chop with Achar or tomato ketchup.

 

3. Momo

Probably the most popular food adored in Nepal is Momo. You can find this dish almost everywhere in Nepal. Inspired by the Chinese dumplings, Momos are Nepali-style dumplings. You can find meat-based momos or even have it in vegetarian ways. The basic ingredients required for Momos are flour and water, oil, salt, desired seasonings, minced meat (buff, chicken, pork etc), finely chopped onions, tomatoes, cabbages, and additional ingredients depending upon your taste.

 

• You will start by preparing your dough. Mix the flour with an adequate amount of water and mix it properly until you get a homogeneous texture.
• After you have acquired the texture, leave it for 30 minutes.
• While you leave your dough, you should already have started preparing your fillings. For meat fillings, prepare a good mixture of minced meat and all the essential seasonings. For vegetarian momos, instead of the meat, you can use vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, capsicum etc.
• Cover your fillings and refrigerate it for at least an hour.
• After your dough and fillings are ready, you move on to assemble the momos!
• Prepare your steamer and make sure to oil the steamer racks where you will place your momos.
• Chuck out small balls from the dough just enough to be flattened out to create a circle shaped wrapper.
• Place your fillings in the middle and carefully wrap it (this is the tricky part where people find it difficult to wrap the momos properly. It is best to watch a tutorial for the assembling of the momos. Cooking class in Kathmandu can also be of great help to gain mastery of the skill.
• Place your momos properly on the steamer racks.
• After you have placed enough pieces onto the racks, close the lid and let it cook for around 10 minutes.

 

Momos are best served immediately upon cooking. You may serve momos with tomato achar or any other chutney to spice up the taste.

 

4. Carrot Pudding (Gajar Ko Halwa)

Gajar Ko Halwa, one of the best sweet dishes served both as snacks and desserts, is a classic carrot pudding. It’s one of the favorite snacks especially for children, yet you can enjoy this sweet meal if you have a sweet tooth. But cooking Gajar Ko Halwa requires patience, gratining the carrots needs a whole lot of hard work and dedication! The basic ingredients required to make Carrot Pudding are: carrots, milk, sugar, clarified butter, cardamom powder, saffron flakes, chopped almond/pistachio (dry fruit topping of your choice)

 

The procedure to make Carrot Pudding is:

• Grate the carrots.
• Boil whole milk with sugar until the quantity decreases to its half.
• Fry the carrots in a small amount of clarified butter.
• When the red of the carrot starts fading, mix it with the milk.
• Stir the mixture continuously so that the bottom does not burn.
• When the mixture starts thickening, add clarified butter, cardamom and saffron. Stir the mixture.
• When the ghee and the milk have evaporated, garnish your dish with dry fruits and serve.

 

This is how you prepare a Gajar Ko Halwa! The dish requires a tad bit of extra care and familiar touch. Cooking class in Kathmandu will certainly help you to gain that touch in no time at all.

Episode II

 

5. Mushroom Choila

If you ever start having problems thinking what you want to make for your vegetarian friends, don’t worry: we have the perfect dish for you. The qualities of mushroom blended with the Newari cooking style, you get a delightful snack: the Mushroom Choila. The Mushroom Choila is also a member of the Newari cuisine family. The basic ingredients required to make this dish are mushroom, mustard oil, onions, garlic leaves, ginger, cumin powder, soya sauce, chilly, lemon, and salt.

 

The procedure to make the Mushroom Choila is:

• Wash the mushrooms and remove the stems to prepare them for the cooking.
• Heat the mushroom properly on all sides directly on the fire.
• Heat mustard oil and add the mushrooms and cook it for 5 minutes.
• Cut the mushrooms into small pieces. (You may do so in shapes you like.)
• Put soya sauce and salt to taste and mix it.
• Add the rest of onions, garlic leaves, ginger, cumin powder, chilly, and lemon.

 

This is how you prepare Mushroom choila. Make sure you do not heat your mushrooms in an aluminum pan as it turns the mushrooms black. Consult Nepal Cooking School if you need assistance or guidance while preparing the meal.

 

6. Bara

Yet again, another Newari dish comes into the list. Bara is a traditional Newari snack made of black lentil. It is somewhat like a pancake. Like Chatamari, Bara can also be made with different flavorings such as meat and egg. But Bara is widely taken as a vegetarian dish and kept away from meat or egg. The major ingredients of Bara are Lentils, Asafetida, Cumin powder, Turmeric powder, ginger paste, salt, and oil.

 

The procedure to make Bara is as follows:

• Soak the black lentils in water overnight
• Wash and remove black skins from the lentil and grind it with water to make a paste.
• Mix the ingredients with the paste and blend it well.
• Heat the pan with oil, pour the paste into the pan and spread it evenly. Cover the pan with a lid.
• Turn the Bara over and cover the pan until it’s cooked.

 

Bara is usually served plain, but people also try adding meat and eggs. This typical Newari dish is a prolific Nepali food item and can be learned at the cooking class in Kathmandu.

 

7. Semolina Pudding (Suji Ko Halwa)

Suji Ko Halwa is another sweet snack/dessert. If you have a desire to eat something sweet, you should definitely try Semolina pudding. This sweet dish requires the ingredients: semolina, cashews, coconut, raisins, milk, water, butter, cardamom, and cloves.

 

The procedure to make Semolina Pudding is:

• Heat a mixture of milk and sugar until it becomes slightly sticky.
• Heat the butter and add raisins, coconuts, cloves, cashews, and cardamom powder.  Make sure this turns golden/brown.
• Add semolina. Fry until it turns golden/brown.
• Add the milk and sugar mixture. Stir it for 7-8 minutes.
• Add water. Cover the pan and let it cook for 5 minutes.

 

This is how you prepare a tasty meal of Semolina Pudding!

 

8. Egg Roll

The Nepalese Egg Rolls are influenced by the Chinese appetizers. Egg Rolls are deep fried cylindrical shaped rolls with stuffings consisting of eggs, vegetables or meat. To make the Nepalese Egg Roll, you will require whole wheat flour, eggs, onions, cucumber, chilly, sunflower oil, and salt.

 

The procedure to make Egg Rolls the Nepalese way is:

• Knead the flour and prepare round thin bread (paratha).
• Prepare your eggs; beat it properly with ample seasoning and salt.
• Fry the egg in sunflower oil on a pan. Make sure you spread it properly almost the size of your flour bread.
• When the egg is half fried, place the bread and cook it for about 2 minutes. Turn the side and cook it for another minute.
• Place the egg layered bread on a flat surface with the egg side facing upwards.
• Dice the cucumber, chilies, and onion and place it in the middle of the bread.
• Roll the bread properly and make sure to close one end.

 

This is how you prepare an egg roll. You may use tomato sauce over the fillings or any other sauce to spice up the taste!

Episode III

 

9. Dal Bhat

Any Nepalese cuisine food list without the Dal Bhat is an incomplete one. Consumed almost throughout the country, the Dal Bhat is a staple dish in Nepal. The Dal Bhat is a set that consists of rice, lentils, curry (vegetable/meat), and Achar. One set of Dal Bhat is enough to energize you for a great day.

 

The Dal Bhat is an ethnic food which is eaten throughout the country. However, the way in which this dish is served varies accordingly to people. Some may offer you Dhido (corn flour rice) instead of the normal rice and some may offer you different curry types or desserts. But, for a typical Dal Bhat set which will consist of rice, lentils, vegetable curry, and Achar, the required ingredients are as follows: rice, lentils, spinach, potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes, onions, salt, and another preferred seasoning.

 

As mentioned earlier, the set consists of multiple items. You will have to cook each item separately and later assemble them in a plate and serve it. The procedure to create this set is as follows:

 

The rice

• Combine rice with enough water and a pinch of salt.
• Cover the cooker and let the rice absorb the water and wait around 15-20 minutes depending on the amount of rice.

 

Lentils

• Heat oil and fry onions and garlic along with seasonings (pepper, cardamom, and salt among others) for a minute.
• After 30 seconds, add the lentils.
• Add water and let it cook until the lentils and the water blend.

 

Vegetable curry

• Heat oil and fry onions, garlic, and salt for a minute
• Add potatoes and fry well.
• Add three-quarters water and add the cauliflower along with salt and spices.
• Cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes.

 

Spinach

• Heat oil and fry onions, garlic and salt for a minute
• Add spinach, cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add salt, pepper, and spices.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 10 more minutes.

 

Achar

• Dice the tomatoes.
• Heat oil and add fenugreek and thyme seeds.
• Upon turning brown, add tomatoes and onions.
• Add salt according to the quantity of tomatoes.
• When water from the tomatoes begin to accumulate, add coriander powder and chilly.
• Cook until the water dries.

 

This is how you prepare a normal Dal bhat set. People also take this meal with meat curry as a side dish. An intimate Nepali food this, it has been in the hearts and mouths of Nepali for ages. As such the detailed information, tips, and hacks can be learned at the Nepal Cooking School.

 

10. Chicken Curry

Chicken curry is a versatile dish and probably a meat lover’s favorite thing to have on their plates. When talking about Nepali food cuisines, we can almost fit in Chicken curry everywhere (if you are non-vegetarian). We can have it with our Dal Bhat set, or Roti (flour bread). The main ingredients required to cook a typical Nepalese style Chicken Curry are Chicken, onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, turmeric, coriander, chili, and salt.

 

The procedure to cook Chicken Curry is:

• Heat oil and fry onions till they become pink and soft.
• Add chicken pieces and salt to taste. Fry until the chicken turns light brown.
• Add ginger, garlic and stir properly.
• Add turmeric powder, chili and mix them well.
• Lower the heat and add tomatoes and stir well. Cover the pan.
• Add water (according to how much gravy you want) and salt to taste.
• Let it cook for another 5-10 mins and add chopped coriander.

 

This is how you prepare a typical Nepalese Chicken Curry. You can take this as a side dish and have it with Rice, Roti, or experiment with new tastes!

 

11. Nepali Tomato Achar

The Nepali Achar is yet another versatile side dish we can find in many Nepali food cuisines. Nepali Achar is spicy pickle which adds the extra special flavor to your main dish. If you look into it, you will find a variety of types of Achar. Some of the most popular Achars are tomato achar, aloo achar, lapsi achar, mula achar etc. Achars can be really spicy and hot, moderately spicy, or even sweet. The basic Nepali Tomato Achar requires the ingredients: tomatoes, onions, fenugreek and thyme seeds, salt, coriander powder, and seasonings depending on your preference.

 

 

The procedure to make a basic Nepali Tomato Achar is:

• Dice the tomatoes.
• Heat oil, and add fenugreek and thyme seeds.
• Upon turning brown, add tomatoes and onions.
• Add salt according to the quantity of tomatoes.
• When water starts to accumulate, add coriander powder and chilly.
• Cook until the water dries.

 

This is how you prepare a Nepali Achar. You can take this side dish with Dal Bhat, sel-roti, and various other food items. Although easy to prepare, the cooking school in Kathmandu helps you gain mastery in this forte.

 

12. Dal Roti

The Daal Roti is yet another fabulous combination of lentils and wheat flour bread.

The Nepalese Roti is a versatile dish that can go with almost any side dish. Likewise, it is eaten with lentils as lunch/dinner or even snacks! You can also make your rotis in different ways. But the basic Nepalese Roti is a flat-plain and dry bread. The basic ingredients to prepare Dal(lentils) are lentils, onions, garlic, seasonings(pepper, cardamon, salt). As for the Roti, you will require wheat flour, salt, water, and vegetable oil.

 

The procedure to prepare this dish is:

 

Lentils

• Heat oil and fry onions and garlic along with seasonings (pepper, cardamon, salt) for a minute.
• After 30 seconds add the lentils.
• Add water and let it cook until the lentils and the water blend.

 

Roti    

• Mix the flour, salt, water, and oil in a bowl and prepare the dough. Knead the dough till it is smooth and pliable (For best results keep it in the sunlight for about 10 minutes)
• Heat a pan without oil for about a minute.
• Chuck out small balls from the dough and flatten the dough with the help of a rolling pin. Make sure to create a circularly shaped flatbread like structure.
• Place the bread onto the pan and let it cook for 1 minute before turning it over. Cook it until the bread has brown spots.

 

This is how you prepare Dal and Roti. You can take this meal with different side dishes such as meat curry and achar.

 

These dishes are some of the finest and the most delicious items that will give you a reason to believe why Nepalese cuisine is one of a kind.  You can take your experience and use it to make these items even if your own country. Furthermore, if you are interested, you can learn to prepare them at the cooking school in Kathmandu. The cooking class in Kathmandu will help you acquire and master the skills on making the finest Nepalese food items. Nepal cooking school is one such institution which helps the enthusiasts to learn Nepali food, their origin, and the procedures to prepare them.

 

Nepali food cuisine comprises of a variety of ingredients and unique characteristics. Learning to cook Nepali food can be a wonderful skill. Cooking indeed is a form of art. When you make your visit to Nepal, you should definitely try and taste most of the delicacies available here.