Talking about the origin of MOMO, it is influenced by Tibetan and Chinese cuisine. It slowly made its way to Nepal through the mountain or Himalayan region of Nepal. As the time passed, chef of Nepal adapted to the recipe of MOMO to meet the taste of local people by including locally produced and indigenous spices and ingredients. In this present time MOMO has been successful in being the favorite of Nepalese people. It doesn’t make any difference in saying it as the national food of the Nepalese people.

Asian Food in Ocean City: MOMO

Nepali MOMO (Dumplings) is a beloved Asian Food in Ocean City and all over the globe. This dish is a culinary treasure of Nepal. This dish is a blessing to one’s taste buds as they are made by a delicious fillings(veg or non-veg) in a thin wrapper like dough which is later steamed or fried. The filling inside the MOMOs can be of wide rage of variety as it can be veg or non-veg also. Pork, Chicken, Beef meats etc. are some of the most popular fillings we can find in MOMOs.

MOMO is not just a single dish, It can come in many various types with the adaptation of its recipe chefs have been successful in producing dynamic types of MOMOs.

Everest Carryout is embracing culinary originality while yet being devoted to traditional Nepali foods. Nepalese ingredients and spices give the classic dish a new twist. Everest Carryout provide you with various types of Nepali MOMO. The ingredients, spices and cooking procedures of a typical Nepalese MOMO can be reflected here.

Recipe for MOMO

Ingredients for fillings

500 gm of minced meat (for non-veg) or veggies (for veg)
1 finely grated onion
Some finely chopped coriander
Half a tsp of coriander powder
Half a tsp of cumin powder
Half a tsp of turmeric
2 tsp of ginger and garlic paste each
2 tsp of vegetable oil
1 kg of flour
2 tsp of chilly powder
2 tsp of salt

Ingredients for Achar

10 tomatoes
3 tablespoons of sesame seeds
1 tablespoons of cumin seeds
2 tablespoons of sunflower oil
2 tablespoons of red chilli paste
2 tablespoons of garlic paste
2 tablespoons of ginger paste
1 tablespoons of coriander powder
1 tablespoons of turmeric powder
2 tablespoons of salt
1 lemon
700 ml of water

Step by Step Procedures

1. For fillings

Add 1 grated onion to the minced meat.
Add half a tablespoon of turmeric powder. This is to add a bit of color to the meat.
To enhance the flavor of the filling add 2 tablespoon of salt.
Add 2 tablespoons of grated chilly. You can add a bit more if you want the momos to be spicy.
Add 2 tablespoons of ginger and garlic paste each.
Add half a tablespoon of coriander powder to make the filling taste a bit sour.
Mix the spices with the meat.
Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and mix it again. The oil prevents the filling from getting too dry (Nepalese love Momo with juicy fillings).
Add finely chopped coriander.
Mix them well.

2. For Momo wrappers

Put the flour into a bowl.
Add water a little at a time to the flour to make dough.
Knead the dough for a few more minutes. This makes the dough easier to use.
Pinch off a bit of the dough (the amount depends on how big you want the wrapping to be).
With a rolling pin roll the dough as thin as possible into circular shapes (don’t make them too thin or too thick) the size of a glass.

3. Cooking the Momos

Put around one tablespoon of the filling into the center of the wrapping.
Pinch one edge of the wrapping to the other edge then twist it.
Keep doing this until the filling is covered (make sure the wrapping fully covers the filling otherwise the momos may break when steamed).
Oil the bottom of the steamer. This prevents the momos from sticking.
Put the momos in a systematic order so that they don’t touch each other.
Steam for 20 – 30 mins.

After steaming, your momos are now ready to be served but we need to cook Achar as well.

4. Cooking Achar

Roast 3 tablespoons of sesame seeds and 1 tablespoon of cumin seeds in a frying pan till it turns brown.
Add 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil to the frying pan and heat it.
Chop 10 tomatoes and add it to the frying pan.
Add 2 tablespoons of red chilli paste, 2 tablespoons of garlic paste, 2 tablespoons of ginger paste, 1 tablespoon of coriander powder and 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder.
Cook the mixture until the tomatoes are slightly cooked.
Add 2 tablespoons of salt (the amount of salt can be varied according to your taste).
Add 700 ml of water to the mixture.
Put it in a blender until it gets smooth.
Squeeze a little bit of lemon juice (this also varies according to your taste).

Finally your momos and sauce are ready to be served.

Types Of Momo Offered By Everest Carryout

Steam Momo (Veg/ Non-Veg)

Steam Momo is a magic of Nepali delicacy inspired from Tibetan and Chinese dumpling. This Momo tends to be juicy, tender and delicate wrapping. It is mainly made with minced meat such as buffalo, pork, chicken, goat or vegetables for vegetarians. This delicacy is wrapped into various distinctive shapes which mostly assembles the shape of half moon or a round golf ball. Steam Momo is served with 2 types of achar one being extremely spicy such as chilly and other being moderate to non spicy which consists of tomatoes, peanuts, spices etc.

Kothey Momo

Kothey momo is another popular variant of traditional Nepali delicacy momo which combines steam method and frying method to create a unique texture and taste to the momo. This momo is first steamed making sure the fillings are well cooked and after fried in a pan until the outer layer is brown to golden color. This makes the momos crispy and crunchy giving it hard to medium texture. It is served with tangy tomato sauce to enhance its taste.

Chilly Momo

The Chilly momo is undoubtedly one of the great example of fusion of traditional cuisine and modern cuisine. This variation of momo is first steamed and then fried in a pan to give a crunchy and crispy texture just like kothey momo. Then it is mixed with its special sauce made from chilly peppers, tomatoes, onion, capsicum, soy sauce and a fusion of various Nepali masalas. This results in mouth watering spicy and hot momo with a sweet taste as well.

Taco Momo

Taco momo is also one of the great example of innovative blend of Nepali momo and Mexican dish taco. A Nepali dish served with a bled of a taco format. This innovative dish involves using momo fillings to be wrapped in soft taco shells instead of traditional thin dough wrappers. Afterwards the dish is decorated with fresh toppings like cilantro, onions and a tangling spicy achar. With the blend of Nepali and Mexican cuisine this momo has made its own name in the cuisine industry which has become favorite of many people around the globe.

Jhol Momo

Jhol momo it self defines its uniqueness through its name. Jhol which means liquid in Nepali and altogether Jhol momo means serving momo with spicy, tangly flavored liquid in a bowl. This dish is very popular in the world of momo lovers. The liquid served with the momos are made from a bled of sesame seeds, tomatoes, garlic ginger and other various Nepali spices and ingredients which creates a blend of rich and fragmented base. The liquid are absorbed by momos giving a tangling and juicy taste in each bite. This dish is served very hot and tastes the best while served hot and warm.

OC Style Momo

Open style momo often known as OC style momo is a modern innovation of traditional momo. Unlike the traditional closed top momo this type of momo has a open top which resembles a small flower. This innovative delicacy not only features appealing design but also allows the flavors of the fillings to be fully cherished while eating. The open design also enhances the texture of the thin wrapping dough which provides a delightful contrast between tender fillings and a crispy edges. OC style momo is usually served with mouth watering tangy sauce which helps to enhance the taste of the momos.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Nepali style momo is a traditional delicacy of Nepal which was inspired from Tibet and China. With the upcoming of many new varieties to choose from choosing any variety surely ensures you to be one of the people who adore momos as part of their life.

Image Source: Getty Images, Century Foods, Eat Your World, Spinach and Bacon, Mero Kinmel, Kathmandu Spice

Recipe Source: Nepal Restaurant UK.CO

Asian Food in Ocean City: Magical Taste of MOMO (2024)

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Asian Food in Ocean City: MOMO