Dal Bhat
Often eaten: Lunch and dinner
Known for: Throughout Nepal
Family meal
Photo: Bijaya2043 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
3 dishes to discover
Food of Nepal
Nepal has a rich and diverse food culture that is influenced by its geography and ethnic diversity. Nepali food often combines flavors from India, Tibet, and China, resulting in a unique blend of tastes. Many dishes use spices and herbs like cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Eating together with family is important, and many dishes are served with rice or lentils.
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Meal Culture
In Nepal, meals are a time for families to come together. People often eat sitting on the floor and share food from large plates. People try not to waste food. One special idea is jutho: once food has touched your own plate or lips, you don't share it with anyone else.
Eating Etiquette
Always wash your hands before a meal. People eat and pass shared dishes with the right hand, because the left hand is traditionally kept for other tasks.
When People Eat It
Momo
Often eaten: Snack or light meal
Known for: Introduced by Tibetan communities in Nepal.
SnackStreet food
Sel Roti
Often eaten: During festivals and special occasions
Known for: Hilly regions of Nepal
FestivalTraditional
Make It Yourself
👩🍳 Cook together! Always ask a grown-up to help with hot or sharp steps.
Dal Bhatदाल भात
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 2 cups (370 g)Rice
- 1 cup (200 g)Lentils (dal)
- 1 tspTurmeric
- 1 tbsp totalGarlic, ginger, cumin
- 2 tbspButter or oil
- to serveCurried vegetables
How to Make It
- 1Cook the rice until fluffy.
- 2Rinse the lentils and simmer them with the turmeric and water until soft, about 20 minutes.
- 3Ask a grown-up to sizzle the garlic, ginger, and cumin in butter.
- 4Stir the sizzled spices into the lentils to make a flavorful dal.
- 5Scoop rice onto each plate and ladle the dal beside it.
- 6Add curried vegetables on the side — Nepal's everyday meal.
Momoम:म
Makes 24 momosIngredients
- 24 wrappersRound dumpling wrappers
- 1/2 lb (225 g)Ground chicken or vegetables
- 1/2 onion, 2 clovesOnion and garlic
- 1 tbspGinger, grated
- 1 tbspSoy sauce
- 2 tbspCilantro
How to Make It
- 1Mix the meat, onion, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and cilantro into a filling.
- 2Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each wrapper.
- 3Pleat and pinch the edges to close each dumpling into a little pouch.
- 4Lightly oil a steamer basket so they don't stick.
- 5Ask a grown-up to steam the momos for about 12 minutes, until cooked through.
- 6Serve hot with a tomato-sesame dipping sauce.
Sel Rotiसेल रोटी
Makes 10 ringsIngredients
- 2 cups (320 g)Rice flour
- 1 bananaMashed banana
- 1/2 cup (100 g)Sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 ml)Milk
- 1/2 tspCardamom
- 3 cups (700 ml)Oil, for frying
How to Make It
- 1Mix the rice flour, sugar, milk, butter, and cardamom into a smooth, thick batter (some families also add a mashed banana).
- 2Let the batter rest for 1 hour.
- 3Ask a grown-up to heat the oil in a deep pan to about 350°F (175°C).
- 4Carefully pour the batter into the oil in a circle to make a ring shape.
- 5Fry until golden, turning once, then lift out and drain.
- 6Enjoy these sweet rice rings during Nepali festivals.
Vocabulary
While Nepali food has similarities to Indian and Tibetan cuisines, it features unique spices and cooking styles that make it special.
