{"id":22526,"date":"2017-10-02T17:04:26","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T06:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures?p=22526&preview=true&preview_id=22526"},"modified":"2024-09-18T16:29:29","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T06:29:29","slug":"guide-to-nepali-cuisine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/guide-to-nepali-cuisine\/","title":{"rendered":"More than momos: A guide to Nepali cuisine"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you walk down any street in Thamel, the tourist district of Kathmandu, chances are you\u2019ll find a \u2018Dal Bhat Power 24 Hour\u2019 t-shirt for sale. There\u2019s truth to the slogan. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Dal bhat \u2013 a traditional dish of lentil soup and rice \u2013 is able to sustain the energy of everyday Nepalis who often eat it three times a day in between their work and play. It’s also the staple diet for trekkers and sherpas, providing them with enough body-fuel to tackle the region’s highest peaks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you ask anyone about Nepali food<\/a>, they\u2019re sure to mention this moreish meal\u2026 but there are plenty of other delectable delights in this landlocked mountainous country. Here are eight of our favourites:<\/p>\n

1. Chatamari<\/h3>\n

It kind of looks like a pizza and, just like the Italian dish, can be made to order to include all of your favourite toppings. Chatamari is a thin crepe, usually made from rice flour. Traditionally it\u2019s covered with spiced minced meat and vegetables like onions, tomatoes and chillies. It\u2019s one of the most popular dishes for the Newari \u2013 the people of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas \u2013 and is eaten as a snack or appetizer. You can order your chatamaris open-faced or folded over, like a taco.<\/p>\n

2. Sel roti<\/h3>\n
\"A<\/a>

Image via Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

If you like doughnuts, you\u2019ll love sel roti. These traditional treats are made from sweetened rice flour that has been deep-fried in a thin ring-shape and then flavoured with bananas, cloves or cardamom. Nepalis often take them as gifts to family and friends for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations.<\/p>\n

3. Samay Baji<\/h3>\n

The best way to sample the spices, flavours and textures of Newari cuisine is to try samay baji. This traditional set of dishes is generally served up during religious festivals and celebrations; the ingredients are believed to bring good luck, health and financial wealth to those who participate in the feast. So what can you expect to find on your plate? Some beaten or puffed rice, a lentil pancake, spiced potato salad, stir-fried spinach, black beans and barbecued buffalo meat, as well as pickled vegetables with fresh ginger. It can also be served with dried fish or dried fruits.<\/p>\n

4. Thukpa<\/h3>\n
\"A<\/a>

Image via Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

Thukpa originated in eastern Tibet and has become a regular dish on the menu in Nepal, particularly in Tibetan-populated areas like Boudhanath. It\u2019s a type of noodle soup and it comes in many varieties depending on where in the Himalayas it’s being dished up. In Nepal, the soup can be quite spicy \u2013 flavoured with garam masala \u2013 but you\u2019ll also find plenty of restaurants serving a milder variety, which is more like a chicken noodle soup.<\/p>\n

5. Wo<\/h3>\n

Imagine a fluffy lentil pancake and you\u2019ll have some idea about wo. These savoury treats are often served alongside dishes like samay baji, but are also a popular roadside snack. They’re made with black or green lentils that have been soaked overnight, then ground, seasoned, shaped into patties and fried. They can be topped with meat, a fried egg or vegetables.<\/p>\n

6. Juju Dhau<\/h3>\n
\"Three<\/a>

Image via Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

Juju Dhau translates to \u2018king yoghurt\u2019 and it\u2019s a speciality in the ancient city of Bhaktapur. Here you\u2019ll find vendors selling this rich creamy dessert in palm-sized clay dishes. It is made from buffalo milk \u2013 although these days cow\u2019s milk is also used. The mixture is sweetened, a bacterial culture added, then it\u2019s poured into pots and left to ferment. The result is a thick, smooth dessert that is a must try when you visit Bhaktapur<\/a>!<\/p>\n

7. Yomari<\/h3>\n

Yomari look a little bit like little doughy fish but there\u2019s nothing salty about these dumplings. They are made from rice flour and stuffed with a sweet filling \u2013 usually containing sesame seeds, molasses, shredded coconut or sugar cane. These steamed treats are considered a delicacy in Nepal <\/a>and play a significant role in religious festivals (including the Yomari Punhi festival, which marks the end of the rice harvest).<\/p>\n

8. Butter tea<\/h3>\n
\"Butter<\/a>

Image via Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n

Apart from thukpa and momos, another delicacy that\u2019s worth sampling while you\u2019re in Nepal is salty butter tea. Sherpas drink this tea several times a day for energy and to help them stay warm in the mountains. It\u2019s believed to assist with altitude sickness, which is why many trekkers take to drinking this brew when they are in the Himalayas. The tea is made with yak butter, milk, salt and special tea leaves.<\/p>\n

Momos are delicious, but so are all these other Nepali treats! Eat ’em all on a trip\u00a0around Nepal<\/a> with Intrepid.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Feature image (of a moreish dal bhat) via Shutterstock.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you ask anyone about Nepali cuisine, they\u2019re sure to mention momos and dal bhat, but there are plenty of other treats in this mountainous country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15880,"featured_media":22532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9],"tags":[260,370,4],"class_list":["post-22526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food","tag-food-adventures","tag-kathmandu","tag-nepal","ipf_theme-food","ipf_region-nepal"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMore than momos: A guide to Nepali cuisine | Intrepid Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you ask anyone about Nepali cuisine, they\u2019re sure to mention momos and dal bhat, but there are plenty of other treats in this mountainous country.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/guide-to-nepali-cuisine\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"More than momos: A guide to Nepali cuisine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you walk down any street in Thamel, the tourist district of Kathmandu, chances are you\u2019ll find a \u2018Dal Bhat Power 24 Hour\u2019 t-shirt for sale. 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