Dumplings of Love

 

Are you really unsure if the world is actually a global village where most of humanity lives under more or less the same conditions everywhere with similarities in culture and more importantly in food habits? Look no further than the innocuous Momo. Momo also known as momo-cha, is a type of Tibetan, Ladakhi and Nepali dumpling, similar to the Mongolian buuz, Chinese jiaozi, or Central Asian manti and is very closely related to the Russian pelmeni or Italian ravioli. Its one of the most healthy filling foods available.

Momos are made with a simple flour-and-water dough—white flour is generally preferred—and sometimes a little yeast 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: Diverse kinds of meat filling are accepted in different regions. In Tibet, Nepal and North East India, goat, buffalo, chicken, yak meat, and pork are the most accepted, in Ladakh lamb and yak are common, while in other Indian cities (e.g., Kolkata), goat and chicken would be the most popular meats used in momos. Minced meat is mixed with any or all of the following: onions, shallots, garlic, and cilantro/coriander. The mixture is seasoned with salt, pepper, and often ground cumin. Some people also add finely puréed tomatoes, and many variations are possible.

    • Vegetarian or mixed momos are becoming increasingly popular in India and Nepal.

    • Potato, similar to Indian samosas, with small dice of firm potato in a tomato based sauce.

    • Cheese, usually a fresh cheese, this variety is common in Bhutan and Sikkim.

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 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 or deep-fried after being steamed. They may be accompanied by an Indian pickle depending upon individual tastes.

Momos are a traditional delicacy in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Ladakh. They are the most popular fast food in Kathmandu valley, Nepal. They are also common in places with noticeable Tibetan population, such as Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, and West Bengal (particularly in Darjeeling). Over the last decade momos have seen their popularity as street- food rise in many Indian cities.

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, capsicums, 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.