Food in Nepal is, to put it mildly, an amateur. During the month spent there, we could not single out anything special from the whole edible variety, as, for example, in Thailand or Vietnam. Although there are no problems with food in Nepal, there are mini-cafes on every corner, especially in Kathmandu, but it’s impossible to say that we liked some dish.
Nepalese cuisine was formed under the influence of India and China. And you will feel it immediately, provided that you have been to these countries. In Nepal, as in many Asian countries, rice, fresh vegetables, wheat, and meat are very popular in cooking. For us so unusual that sometimes it is immediately impossible to understand what you are actually eating right now! I can characterize these seasonings as spicy-spicy, sometimes slightly bitter, but this is already for gourmets.
Mo-mo is a traditional Nepalese dish.
Let lovers of Nepalese cuisine correct me, but we never found anything tastier than mo-mo. Mo-mo is a traditional dish of Nepal, like our dumplings, you can taste it in any street cafe or chic restaurant. And it really is very reminiscent, if not dumplings, but manti for sure! Inside the mo-mo is meat with spices, it can be vegetables, rice or potatoes. Quite a tolerable dish, especially with some spicy seasoning!
Mo-mo can be boiled, steamed or pan fried. I really liked fried ones, served with sweet and spicy spices. But be careful! Sometimes the spices are very difficult, after them there is a “fire in the mouth.”
As you can probably guess, in Nepal, as well as in India, the cow is considered a sacred animal, so don’t expect to find a beef-veal dish anywhere, or you can find canned beef in the store.
In the center of tourist cities there are many eating establishments that offer Europeanized dishes, including the usual scrambled eggs, toast with jam, pork steaks, potatoes and more. They cook almost the same as in our country or in Europe, that is, it is impossible to single out any special differences.
But it is worth moving a little beyond the “tourist influence” zone, as in the first cafe you come across, you have every chance to taste what ordinary Nepalese eat every day! it. It was in Kathmandu, we were walking somewhere near the noisy center and decided to go to a local eatery.
Naturally, everything was written in Nepalese, we did not understand anything and just poked our fingers at what seemed to us more attractive in the cafe window. They brought us something sweet and sour, now it’s even hard to remember what it was. I remember beans, and then something incomprehensible … In general, for some reason we did not dare to eat in local canteens anymore.
Nepalese dish Dal baht
The most popular Nepalese dish among the Nepalese is dhal baht. Dal baht is rice with lentil sauce, usually served with beans, fresh vegetables and some meat (so as not to spoil yourself). Instead of meat, fish and eggs are sometimes added to dal baht. Everything is served with a tortilla!
Another popular noodles with vegetables and chicken – thukpa. Naturally, with spices! Where would we be without them! Probably, this dish should be very tasty, but either we came across such cafes where they could not cook it properly, or we were completely spoiled …
Chowmein – fried noodles with vegetables
The only thing I ate with pleasure as an exclusive pasta lover. In addition to vegetables, meat or chicken can be added here. In general, it’s delicious. They cook in every, even the cheapest cafe! The main thing is that they cook in front of you, here and now, so that you are not in danger of poisoning.
Since there is a lot of tension with cows in Nepal, the Nepalese use yak milk to the fullest, and they make cheese from it. I recommend this cheese! Very unusual taste. Sold in all large stores on the shelves with dairy products.
Nepalese tea
Be sure to mention Nepalese teas! It’s just something with something! Teas with mountain herbs, every day you can try a new tea. I remember how, when I came to a cafe for breakfast, I couldn’t decide what tea I would drink today, because I wanted to try everything, my favorite teas appeared, but I had to try the rest! That’s how I “suffered” constantly.
