List of Traditional Nepali Foods

Nepali food is wide known for its extraordinary set of spices, taste and is very satisfying for the tongue. You will find yourself completely fascinated by the food and it will fill your tummy just the way you would want to at the time of extreme hunger. There are many Nepali foods which are photo-ready, appealing and will drag you to the food with its amazing aroma itself. The use of plenty of spices, enough ghee and warm loving hands with the tendency to give the consumer a lot of satisfaction and pleasure makes traditional Nepali food, Nepali food.

“Dal Bhaat”, with a very familiar smirk is the first response you will notice if you ask any Nepali about Traditional foods of Nepal. Although there still is a wide variety of options for you to decide yourself that which food you would want to eat today, Dal Bhaat holds this special place in every Nepali’s heart which very much comes out of their mouth as swiftly as you can imagine. Nepali food has a separate aroma, a separate tang/twist to it that makes it so special. With the combination of the best spices and lots of love, Nepali food will really give you “आमाको हात को ” experience every single time.

List of Traditional Nepali Foods

1. Dal Bhaat

   Being a staple dish of Nepal, Dal Bhat is more than just rice and legume. When served, Dal Bhat is served along side vegetable curries, meat curries and a lot of pickles. This wholesome meal is the only one on the list that is cooked every day at almost everyone’s houses. Dal is a soup made of lentils and spices and carries many nutritional benefits. Dal, bhat, tarkari, achar and ghee on top definitely is a chef’s kiss. This traditional food has been cooking in every kitchen ever since anyone can even remember.

2. Mo:Mo

   Known for being similar to Tibetan Dumplings, Momos are even better. Momos are minced vegetables, chicken or buffalo wrapped in soft dough and steamed, deep-fried and served with spicy soup or spicy pickles, however you would like it. Momos are definitely worth the wait and has been a part of Traditional Nepali cuisine for a long time. This dish was initially popular among the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. It is believed that travelling Newari merchants took the recipe of momo from Tibet where those merchants used to go to trade and hence, they brought it back to Nepal. With time, the recipe for momo flourished even more and now is the absolute favorite of every Nepali.

   ---

   Also Read : Nepalese Food

   ---

3. Sel Roti

   Deep fried in ghee or oil, Sel Roti is more than just rice doughnuts. Sel Roti has always been a major traditional Nepali food involving itself in the most important events and festivals of Nepal like Tihar, marriages and even bratabandhas. It is a semi-liquid rice dough with sugar, ghee, cardamom powder and you can add any flavor of your choice. Sel roti is cooked in a bulk and can be stored at room temperature for at least 20 days. Sel roti is sent as presents to family members as a symbol of love and respect, and is even consumed in the form of “prasad” during puja.

4. Newari Khaja Set

   The Samaya Baji is the most popular of all the finger-licking foods in Newar culture (Newari Khaja set). The Khaja set’s flavorful dish is accompanied with a variety of tasty meals with various colors in the food. To the Newar people, all of the foods together indicate celebration and festivity. Good luck, riches, health, longevity, and prosperity are all symbols of the Samaya Baji. The dish is first offered to God and then consumed by the people after obtaining the blessing. It is especially made and eaten in family festivities and festivals. During festivals, all family members sit face to face on narrow straw mats and enjoy their meal which makes this traditional food even more special. The khaja set includes chiura(beaten rice), aalu tama(potato and boiled shoots curry), chatamari(rice flour crepes), bhatmas(black soy beans), aalu wala(spicy potato salad), juju dhau(sweet royal curd), khen(boiled fried egg), bodi ko achar(boiled beans mixed with spices), etc. This traditional food holds many Nepalese’s hearts and its craving has increased more because of the local taste it provides.

   ---

   Also Read : More on Newari Cusine

   ---

5. Dhindo

   Dhindo is a visually and tastefully traditional food of Nepal. It has been in the Nepali kitchen for a long-long time and has even proven to be beneficial in terms of the nutrition it provides. Though it is a staple food of Nepal, it has been considered as an inferior food compared to rice and it is linked to low status for some reasons. Dhindo is prepared by mixing flour and water and adding ghee, sugar, garlic, salt, etc. to it. Traditionally, dhindo is prepared from ground buckwheat, millet and even corn is popular for preparing dhindo. Dhindo is traditionally prepared in an iron pan and it is stirred using a narrow iron spatula as the mixture thickens. Dhindo is eaten by making small balls of the mixture with hand and dipped in soup while consuming.

   Nepali foods are very unique and have a very special taste that has been attracting tourists from around the world. We hope this information was helpful and you got to know about traditional Nepali dishes. If you have any comments, please post it below.