All Topics  
Momo (food)

 

   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link






 

Momo (food)



 
 
Momo (Nepali
Nepali language

Nepali is a language in the Indo-Aryan languages of the Indo-European languages.It is the lingua-franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan, parts of India and parts of Myanmar ....
: ?:?:), also momo-cha, is a type of Tibetan, Ladakhi
Ladakh

Ladakh is a region in the Indian Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir between the Kunlun Mountains mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryans and Tibetan people descent....
 and Nepali dumpling
Dumpling

Dumplings, as defined in a standard English dictionary, fall in two main categories: these are either "piece[s] of dough, sometimes filled, that are cooked in liquid such as water or soup" or alternatively "sweetened dough wrapped around fruit, such as an apple, baked and served as a dessert." More generally, dumplings may be any of a wi...
, similar to Mongolian buuz
Buuz

Buuz are a type of Mongolian culture steamed dumpling filled with minced Lamb , or yak meat. The meat is flavoured with onion or garlic and salted....
, Chinese jiaozi
Jiaozi

Jiaozi , gyoza , or pot sticker is a Cuisine of China dumpling, widely popular in Mainland China and Japan as well as outside of East Asia, particularly in North America....
, or Central Asian manti
Manti

Manti, also manty, mantu, mantou, or manties , are a type of dumpling in Turkish cuisine and various Central Asian and Caucasus cuisines, closely related to the east Asian baozi and Mandu ....
, closely related to Russian pelmeni
Pelmeni

Pelmeni are a Russia national dish, a type of dumpling consisting of a filling that is wrapped in thin unleavened dough. In other languages they are called by similar names: Belarusian language: ???????? pyal?meni; Tatar language: ?????? pilm?n; pel?meni; ; ....
 or Italian ravioli
Ravioli

Ravioli is a type of filled pasta composed of a filling sealed between two layers of thin pasta dough. The word ravioli is reminiscent of the Italian language verb ravvolgere , though the two words are not etymologically connected....
.

Momos are made with a simple flour-and-water dough—white flour is generally preferred—and sometimes a little yeast
Yeast

Yeasts are eukaryote microorganisms classified in the Kingdom fungus, with about 1,500 species currently described; they dominate fungal diversity in the oceans....
 or baking soda is added to give a more 'doughy' texture to the finished product. The filling may be one of several mixtures described below:



The dough is fashioned into small circular flat pieces.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Momo (food)'
Start a new discussion about 'Momo (food)'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Momo (Nepali
Nepali language

Nepali is a language in the Indo-Aryan languages of the Indo-European languages.It is the lingua-franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan, parts of India and parts of Myanmar ....
: ?:?:), also momo-cha, is a type of Tibetan, Ladakhi
Ladakh

Ladakh is a region in the Indian Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir between the Kunlun Mountains mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryans and Tibetan people descent....
 and Nepali dumpling
Dumpling

Dumplings, as defined in a standard English dictionary, fall in two main categories: these are either "piece[s] of dough, sometimes filled, that are cooked in liquid such as water or soup" or alternatively "sweetened dough wrapped around fruit, such as an apple, baked and served as a dessert." More generally, dumplings may be any of a wi...
, similar to Mongolian buuz
Buuz

Buuz are a type of Mongolian culture steamed dumpling filled with minced Lamb , or yak meat. The meat is flavoured with onion or garlic and salted....
, Chinese jiaozi
Jiaozi

Jiaozi , gyoza , or pot sticker is a Cuisine of China dumpling, widely popular in Mainland China and Japan as well as outside of East Asia, particularly in North America....
, or Central Asian manti
Manti

Manti, also manty, mantu, mantou, or manties , are a type of dumpling in Turkish cuisine and various Central Asian and Caucasus cuisines, closely related to the east Asian baozi and Mandu ....
, closely related to Russian pelmeni
Pelmeni

Pelmeni are a Russia national dish, a type of dumpling consisting of a filling that is wrapped in thin unleavened dough. In other languages they are called by similar names: Belarusian language: ???????? pyal?meni; Tatar language: ?????? pilm?n; pel?meni; ; ....
 or Italian ravioli
Ravioli

Ravioli is a type of filled pasta composed of a filling sealed between two layers of thin pasta dough. The word ravioli is reminiscent of the Italian language verb ravvolgere , though the two words are not etymologically connected....
.

Momos are made with a simple flour-and-water dough—white flour is generally preferred—and sometimes a little yeast
Yeast

Yeasts are eukaryote microorganisms classified in the Kingdom fungus, with about 1,500 species currently described; they dominate fungal diversity in the oceans....
 or baking soda is added to give a more 'doughy' texture to the finished product. The filling may be one of several mixtures described below:

  • Meat
    Meat

    In modern English usage, meat most often refers to animal biological tissue used as food, mostly skeletal muscle and associated fat, but it may also refer to offal, including livers, skin, brains, bone marrow, kidneys, in some countries lungs, and a variety of other internal organs as well as blood....
    : different kinds of meat filling are popular in different regions. In Tibet, Nepal and North East India, goat,buffalo
    Water Buffalo

    The Water Buffalo or domestic Asian water buffalo is a large bovine animal, frequently used as livestock in Asia, and also widely in South America, southern Europe, north Africa and elsewhere....
    , chicken, yak meat
    Yak

    The yak is a long-haired bovine found throughout the Himalayan region of south Central Asia, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia....
    , and pork would be the most popular, in Ladakh lamb and yak are common, while in other Indian cities (e.g., Guwahati
    Guwahati

    Guwahati is a major city in eastern India, often considered as the gateway to the North East India Region of the country and is the largest city within the region....
    ), goat and chicken would be the most popular meats used in momos. Minced meat is combined with any or all of the following: onions, shallots, garlic
    Garlic

    Allium sativum L., commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion family Alliaceae. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, and chive....
    , and cilantro/coriander
    Coriander

    Coriander is an annual plant herb in the family Apiaceae. It is also known as cilantro, particularly in the USA. Coriander is native to southwestern Asia west to north Africa....
    . The mixture is spiced with salt, pepper, and often ground cumin
    Cumin

    Cumin is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to East India....
    . Some people also add finely puréed tomato
    Tomato

    The Tomato is an herbaceous, usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family, as are its close cousins Nicotiana, potatoes, aubergine , chilli peppers, and the poisonous Atropa belladonna....
    es, and many variations are possible.
  • Vegetarian or mixed momos are becoming increasingly popular in India and Nepal.
  • Potato
    Potato

    The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial plant Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family. The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well....
    , similar to Indian samosa
    Samosa

    A samosa, a stuffed pastry, is a common snack in South Asia, Central Asia, the Horn of Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. It generally consists of a fried triangular- or tetrahedron-shaped pastry shell with a savory filling of spiced potatoes, onion, peas, coriander, and sometimes fresh paneer....
    s, with small dice of firm potato in a tomato based sauce.
  • Cheese
    Cheese

    Cheese is a food consisting of proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cattle, Water Buffalo, goats, or sheep's milk. It is produced by Coagulation of the milk protein casein....
    , usually a fresh cheese, this variety is common in Bhutan
    Bhutan

    The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked nation in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalaya Mountains and is bordered to the south, east and west by India and to the north by the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China....
     and Sikkim
    Sikkim

    Sikkim is a landlocked States and territories of India nestled in the Himalayas. It is the least populous state in India, and the second-smallest in area after Goa....
    .
  • Snickers
    Snickers

    Snickers is a chocolate bar made by the Mars family. It consists of peanut butter nougat topped with roasted peanuts and caramel, covered with milk chocolate....
     or Mars Bar
    Mars Bar

    The Mars Bar is a chocolate bar manufactured by Mars Incorporated. It was first manufactured in Slough Trading Estate in the United Kingdom in 1932 as a sweeter version of the American Milky Way bar which Mars, Inc....
    , an original sweet momo sold only in touristic areas of Nepal.


The dough is fashioned into small circular flat pieces. The filling is then enclosed either in a round pocket or in a half moon shape or crescent. The dumplings are then cooked by steaming
Steaming

Steaming is a method of cooking using steam. Steaming is considered a relatively healthier cooking technique and capable of cooking almost all kinds of food....
 over a soup (either a stock based on bones or tomato-based), which is served with the dumplings, as well as chili sauce. The dumplings may also be pan-fried
Pan frying

Pan frying is a form of frying characterized by the use of less cooking oil than deep frying; using enough oil to, at most, cover the food to be cooked only half way....
 or deep-fried
Deep frying

Deep frying is a cooking method in which food is submerged in hot oil or fat. This is normally performed with a deep fryer or chip pan; industrially, a pressure fryer or vacuum fryer may be used....
 after being steamed. They are often accompanied by an Indian pickle achar
Indian pickle

Indian pickles are a variety of spicy pickled side dishes or condiments popular in the Indian Subcontinent, in Southeast Asia, and in many other areas among ethnically South Asian communities....
.

Momos are a traditional delicacy in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Ladakh. They are the most popular fast food in Kathmandu valley
Kathmandu Valley

The Kathmandu Valley , located in the Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus and the Buddhists....
, Nepal. They are also common in places with noticeable Tibetan diaspora, such as Assam
Assam

Assam ) is a North-East India state of India with its capital at Dispur, in the outskirts of the city Guwahati. Located south of the eastern Himalayas, Assam comprises the Brahmaputra and the Barak River river valleys and the Karbi Anglong District and the North Cachar Hills with an area of 30,285 square miles ....
, Manipur
Manipur

Manipur is a States and territories of India in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Myanmar to the east....
, Nagaland
Nagaland

Nagaland is a hill States and territories of India located in the far North-East India part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south....
, Meghalaya
Meghalaya

Meghalaya is a small States of India in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means "The Abode of Clouds" in Sanskrit and other Indic languages....
, Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is a state in the Punjab region in north-west India. Himachal Pradesh is spread over 21,629 square mile , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on north, Punjab on west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on south, Uttarakhand on south-east and by Tibet on the east....
, and West Bengal
West Bengal

West Bengal is a States and territories of India in eastern India. With Bangladesh, which lies on its eastern border, the state forms the ethno-linguistic region of Bengal....
 (particularly in Darjeeling
Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a town in the Indian state of West Bengal.It is the headquarters of Darjeeling district, in the Siwalik Hills on the lower range of the Himalaya, at an average elevation of ....
 ). Over the last decade momos have become a very popular street food
Street food

Street food is food obtainable from a Hawker , often from a makeshift or portable market stall. While some street foods are regional, many are not, having spread beyond their region of origin....
 in many Indian cities, such as Kolkata
Kolkata

, Indian renaming controversy , is the Capital of the Indian States and territories of India of West Bengal. It is located in East India on the east bank of the River Hooghly....
, Siliguri
Siliguri

Siliguri is a rapidly developing metropolis in the Indian states and territories of India of West Bengal. It is located in the Siliguri Corridor or Chicken's Neck ? a very narrow strip of land linking mainland India to its North East India....
, Guwahati
Guwahati

Guwahati is a major city in eastern India, often considered as the gateway to the North East India Region of the country and is the largest city within the region....
, Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
 and Chandigarh
Chandigarh

Chandigarh , also called The Beautiful City, is a city in India that serves as the Capital of two states and territories of India, Punjab, India and Haryana, and is a union territory of India....
.

There are different varieties of momos. Most common are C-momo, Kothey momo, and fried momo. C-momo is momos in a hot and spicy sauce consisting of onions, capsicum
Capsicum

Capsicum is a genus of plants from the nightshade family native to the Americas, where it was cultivated for thousands of years by the people of the tropical Americas, and is now cultivated worldwide....
s, etc., usually served in a bowl. Fried momos are prepared by deep frying the steamed momos, and Kothey momos are pan-fried. These are some of the most common items served in Tibetan and Nepalese restaurants.

External links

  • (including sauce and photo)