06 Jun A Taste of Nepal: 10 Nepali Foods You Must Try!
A Taste of Nepal
Before traveling to Nepal, I honestly had no what idea what to expect of the cuisine, I had never tried it or even really heard of Nepali food. Fast forward to now, months later, and here I am quarantined in Virginia seriously craving some momos!
Nepali food is really interesting to me, it has a lot of Indian and Tibetan influence, but Nepali people have really made the dishes their own. Additionally, there are foods that came from the villages within the mountains that were created from the resources at hand and are staple cuisine for those tribes.
While in Nepal I really dove into the food culture fully, and tried any dish put in front of me. I had my favorites and some were more memorable than others. From my experiences, I provide to you a taste of nepal, 10 nepali foods you must try when you visit!
10 Nepali Foods You Must Try
1. Dal Bhat Takari
By far the most popular dish eaten by locals is Dal Bhat Takari (usually just referred to as Dal Bhat) which is consumed by Nepali people every single day, sometimes twice!
It consists of several foods, the first being Dal which is the lentil soup, Bhat which is the rice, and Takari which is the vegetables. The dish can also be served with various meat or fish, sometimes even an omelet and various sides or sauces. Dhal Bhat can be eaten in different ways but the locals usually pour the soup over their rice and then mix in sauces as wished.
Although you’ll see tourists eating with a fork, most Nepali people actually eat this with their right hand, something that is not as easy as it looks! I tried and made a complete mess and had difficulty picking up as much rice as I intended. They say if you get food on your palm it is bad manners and a sign of messiness, something I had difficulty avoiding.
If you go trekking in Nepal, expect to have dhal bhat every day while staying in homestays.
2. Momos
The second most popular Nepali food, which was my ABSOLUTE favorite, is momos! These delicious balls are similar to dumplings, the outside made with flour and water, and the filling is veggies or meat with various spices. After folding in the filling, the momos can either be steamed or fried and are then eaten with a dipping sauce. Momos are incredibly addicting but after a plate of 10 for lunch, you’ll be set until dinner!
I actually had the chance to make momos myself while in Nepal, which was much more involved than I thought! Getting the perfect fold using my thumbs was difficult, but after some practice I was a pro! At least in my book.
3. Sel Roti
Sel Roti is similar to a donut in that it is a sweet bread that’s been fried and is oh so delicious! It’s especially popular to prepare during Tihar and Dashain, Nepali holidays.
4. Chiura
Chiura is odd to many foreigners, but personally I LOVED it. It’s essentially beaten rice that’s been flattened by the blows which creates a very crunchy and dry texture. It’s particularly delicious when you mix it with other sides or sauces to give them an added crunch.
5. Kheer
Kheer is a sweet rice pudding that’s served as a dessert. It’s flavored and garnished with coconut, cashews, raisins, saffron, cardamon, almonds, and other choice elements.
6. Panipuri or Puchka
Panipuri was especially unique to me and probably my favorite Nepali street food. It is little balls, hollowed out with thin walls made of fried batter; inside is a sort of soup or broth, with various spices like masala and chutney with potatoes, onions and chickpeas. Sometimes there are different toppings, but it was always delicious and great for a quick snack in Kathmandu.
7. Jkaikhatte
This is a Nepali alcholic drink that can be found especially in the villages while trekking. Its name comes from the sound when raksi (Nepali alcholol made from millet or rice) is mixed with hot ghee and rice grains. It’s often served with fried rice and warm as seen in the photo. In my opinion the taste was very strong and unlike anything I had tried before.
8. Thukpa
Thukpa is a soup that actually originated in Tibet and made its way to Nepal, but with more spicy Indian influence than the original.
9. Newari Khaja
This is a set of food usually containing buffalo meat, lentil soup, beaten rice and other sides.
10. Jhilinga
Jhilinga is a crunchy food of simple ingredients but complex form. It’s made of rice flour mixed into boiling hot water from which noodles are then formed and then set aside. After a few days that these noodles have set in the sun, it is then deep fried. This treat is popular in Gurung villages.
Fun Fact:
In Nepal, brass or copper plates and platters are reserved for guests.
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