Category Archives: Nepali food

Soy Chunks Vegetarian Momo

Posted on March 8, 2016 | 2 comments

Momo is a very popular dish in Nepal and almost all Nepalese love them. I usually make chicken or pork momo but sometimes I have vegetarians in my guest list so I used to make cabbage and onion veggie momo which I have to admit is not very as yummy. Recently one of my cousins made some vegetarian momo which was as yummy was the non-veg ones so I had to try and learn how to make it.

The vegetarian momo was made with Soy chunks and paneer (cottage cheese).

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Soy Chunks (soak in water for an hour)

vegetable momo (2)

  • 1 medium size onion finely chopped
  • 1 cup of finely chopped Cabbage
  • 100 gm Paneer cut into small pieces

vegetable momo (1)

  • 3 table spoons soy sauce
  • 2 table spoons coriander powder
  • 2 table spoons cumin powder
  • 1 table spoon red chili powder
  • 3 table spoons oil
  • 1 cup of fresh coriander finely chopped
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 packet momo wrapper (30 pieces)

Methods

Note: You can make the momo achar beforehand as per linked method and put it in the fridge.

Jhol achar

Tomatoes achar

  • Put the Soy chunks in a blender mince and place in a large bowl.

vegetable momo (3) vegetable momo (4)

  • Add onion, cabbage, soy sauce, cumin powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, oil, fresh coriander, cabbage, and salt.
  • Mix well and the filling is ready.

vegetable momo (5)

  • Make momo as shown in the video below.

  • In the meantime, bring water to a boil in a steamer.
  • Once momo is ready, put on the steamer for 10-15 minutes.
  • Enjoy the momo with achar.
  • I promise it tastes just as good as the non-veg momo 🙂

Jhol momo soup (7)

Take care everyone,

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO

P.S: Do not forget to nominate your favourite blog . NEPALIAUSTRALIAN’s Blog Award 2015

2 Comments

Posted in Nepali food, Recipe

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Lito: Nutritious Nepali baby food

Posted on February 29, 2016 | 5 comments

Living overseas, I always miss small things from home. When I had Chhori one of the things I wanted to feed her was Lito, a nutritious baby food used in Nepal. Luckily for me there are many Nepali grocery shops in Sydney and I finally found some Lito. I was happy as I didn’t need to make it but unfortunately, in a premade lito, they add powder milk making it sweet.

Chhori is not into formula so she didn’t like the store bought lito that much. So, I decided that it is time for me to make some lito at home for her which will be very high in nutrition and organic as well.

So here is my first attempt at making the Lito.

Ingredients

  • Rice 160 gm
  • Beaten/Flattened rice (Chiura) 160 gm
  • Corn 80 gm
  • Whole wheat 80 gm
  • Brown soybeans (bhatmas) 80 gm
  • Brown chick peas 80 gm
  • 6 Cashews
  • 6 Almonds

IMG_3449

Methods

  • Dry roast rice, beaten rice, corn, wheat, soybeans, chickpeas, cashews and almonds seperately on a pan.

IMG_3450

  • Grind each of them separately as they have different textures.

IMG_3815

  • Once done use the strainer to make sure that the powder is fine.

IMG_3811

  • Mix everything together and Lito is ready to be cooked.

IMG_3818

  • You can store the Lito in an airtight container for a few months.

To cook lito, just add hot water and mix well.

If you want it to be more flavorsome, heat a pan and, add 1/2 teaspoon of ghee, 1/2 teaspoon of ajwain. Now add lito and water and let it boil. Salt is optional. You can choose the consistency of the Lito according to the age of the baby and how your baby likes it.

Hope you will enjoy making this nutritious food for your little one.

Chhori is happy to eat Lito so I am happy to make an effort 🙂

Take care everyone,

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO

P.S: Do not forget to nominate your favourite blog . NEPALIAUSTRALIAN’s Blog Award 2015

5 Comments

Posted in Nepali food, Recipe

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Newari Gwaramari

Posted on February 23, 2016 | 3 comments

In Kathmandu most of us have happy memories of eating Gwaramari and tea for breakfast during cold winter months.

In Newari “Gwara” means round and “mari” means bread so Gwaramari literally means round bread but to people who have eaten it, it is not just ordinary bread but a very yummy one with a distinct flavour.

I was craving for some Gwaramari for a while so I decided to try making it with a friend. It took us a few attempts to get it right but I am very happy with the end result. It tasted really good.

Ingredients

  • 250 g plain flour
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • Salt to taste
  • 300 ml water
  • 500ml vegetable oil (for deep-frying)

Method

  • In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cumin, coriander and salt.

Nepali Gwaramari (2)

  • Add water slowly stirring continuously to make a thick paste.
  • If you have time, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight otherwise for at least 2 hours.

Nepali Gwaramari (3)

  • In a deep pan, heat the vegetable oil. The oil is hot enough, if you drop small amount of batter and it quickly rises and becomes brown.
  • Once the oil is hot enough, take a table spoon of mixture and place it gently on the hot oil. The dough will puff up and rise to the top of the pan. You can add multiple balls at the same time.

Nepali Gwaramari (4)

  • Fry them until golden brown.
  • Take it out and use paper towel to soak the extra oil.

Nepali Gwaramari (1)

  • It is best served hot with some Masala tea.

Take care everyone,

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO

3 Comments

Posted in Foodie, Nepali food, Newari Food, Recipe

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Jwano ko Jhol (Thyme Seeds Soup)

Posted on June 12, 2015 | 8 comments

As I mentioned in my previous post, Jwano ko Jhol is a traditional Nepali soup which is given to new mums to increase their supply of milk. I wasn’t very sure about it before but I now swear by it.

Jwano ko Jhol (1)

Initially when I started drinking it, I had an over supply of milk so I needed to decrease the amount I drank. Then after a while when I stopped drinking it completely, I could feel the supply of my milk went low as well. So I started drinking it in again but in small amount.

Jwana ko jhol is also believed to have lots of health benefits like helping to heal the wounds, relieve body aches and help with cold and cough. Thyme also has potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, and selenium for the well-being of our body.

The soup is very easy to make.

Ingredients for 2 cups of soup

  • 2 tea spoon Jwano (Thyme seed)
  • 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric powder
  • 1 tea spoon of fresh ginger garlic paste
  • ½ tea spoon cumin powder
  • ½ teaspoon ghee (clarified butter)
  • Salt as per taste
  • 2 ½ cups water

Method

  • Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add ghee when hot.
  • When ghee is melted, add jwano, turmeric powder, cumin powder, ginger garlic paste and salt and stir them together.

Jwano ko Jhol (2)

  • After about a minute once you smell the ginger garlic flavour add water and let it boil for a few minutes.

Jwano ko Jhol (3)

  • Jwana ko jhol is now ready to serve
  • Enjoy!

Take care everyone till next post.

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO

8 Comments

Posted in My pregnancy, Nepal, Nepali food, Newari Food, Recipe

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My extra special Aama ko Mukh herne (Nepali Mother’s day)

Posted on April 19, 2015 | 6 comments

As I have mentioned in many of my posts before, Nepal has a different calendar than the Gregorian calendar. So in Nepal people also celebrate Mother’s day on a different day than the western calendar. In Australia, Mother’s Day is the second Sunday of May every year but in Nepali calendar, it depends on the moon. It falls on the last day of the dark fortnight of April or early May. This year, it happened to be on 18 April 2015. It is commonly known as Aama ko Mukh herne in Nepal which translates to “Looking at one’s mother’s face”.

This year Aama ko Mukh herne was extra special because my mum is here with me. The last time we were together for Aama ko Mukh herne was more than a decade ago so I was really excited.

To make the day special for her I prepared Sagun, baked cupcakes and a cake. I also bought a dress, a nice watch, fruits, sweets and snacks.

Aama ko Mukh herne (1) Aama ko Mukh herne (4) Aama ko Mukh herne (3) Aama ko Mukh herne (2)Aama ko Mukh herne (12)

It was amazing to do the Aama ko Mukh herne ritual in person as compared to on Skype Aama ko Mukh herne.

Aama ko Mukh herne (5)Aama ko Mukh herne (6)Aama ko Mukh herne (7)Aama ko Mukh herne (8)

Mummy was really happy and I am glad I was able to make her feel special.

Aama ko Mukh herne (10)Aama ko Mukh herne (11)

Also this is my first Aama ko Mukh herne as a mum and just looking at Chhori smiling in the morning made my day extra special.

Aama ko Mukh herne, Mata Tirtha, Nepali Mother’s day

So if you haven’t called your mum to wish her, do give her a call and make her smile. And to all the proud moms out there, Happy Aama ko Mukh herne.

Till  next post take care everyone,

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO

6 Comments

Posted in Nepal, Nepali Culture, Nepali Festivals, Nepali food

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