A NEPALI KITCHEN

Set against the backdrop of the glorious Himalayas, Nepal is a surprising melting pot of cultures, traditions, and ethnic peoples.

Reflecting a multitude of influences, Nepalese cuisine blends a range of ingredients, styles, and qualities from its closest geographical neighbours – India, Tibet, and China – with its own food history.

Yet, the mountainous nation has managed to retain its own distinct culinary identity – focusing strongly on using locally grown produce, abundant vegetables, meats, pickles, and salads.

Common ingredients found across Nepalese cuisine include lentils, potatoes, tomatoes, cumin, coriander, chilies, peppers, garlic, and mustard oil.

Yoghurt (or dahi) too is popular across Nepal, and is eaten not only for its health benefits but also for its versatility, as it serves either as a side dish or as an ingredient in native coolers (lassi) and desserts (sikarni).

Nepalese cuisine is simple, subtle, satisfying.

“If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.” – Anthony Bourdain

THAKALI CUISINE

The delicious Thakali cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines in Nepal.

A typical Thakali Thali (platter) set consists of rice, dhindo (thick porridge made from cornmeal, buckwheat or millet flour) or chapatti (flat breads); with lentils, dried greens, vegetables, pickles, and meat on the side.

Sliced carrots and radishes are also served as salad on the plate. Do not forget to pour some fragrant ghee (clarified butter) over rice or dhindo while eating!

If you want more intense tastes and rich flavours then try the sukuti fry (Thakali fried dried meat) with timur chhop (Szechwan pepper powder).

Treat yourself to other special Thakali meat varieties like bhutuwa, dhong (lungs filled with blood and buckwheat flour, which are then boiled and fried) and ghinti (blood sausage).

Buckwheat dumpling soup served with sukuti and greens is called aalungkhu.

If you still want more, try potato or buckwheat fries usually served with garlic chili dipping sauce or timur chhop.

Many Nepali eateries specialise in Thakali food – here you can even try Thakali momos (dumplings) and thukpas (noodles).

These popular food places offer a variety of elements that make up the authentic Thakali platter.

Thakali cuisine uses distinctive flavours like hot chili pepper and timur among others. These flavours trace their roots to the Thak Khola Valley, which is located in the upper parts of the Kali Gandaki Gorge in Nepal.

NEWARI CUISINE

Newari cuisine is for everyone who loves trying out local and authentic delicacies.

A diverse blend of different dishes, Newari cuisine is not just a meal, it’s an experience you would not like to miss.

Newari culture involves countless feasts, which means plenty of food.

SAMAY BAJI

Samay Baji is one of the most important sets of Newari food items.

It typically includes baji (beaten rice), bara (lentil patty), soybean, meat, dried fish, eggs, aalu tama (potato with bamboo shoots) curry, yoghurt, yellow peas, greens, and spicy potatoes.

Meat can be either buffalo (which is extremely popular), goat or chicken.

NEWARI MEAT DISHES

There are several mouthwatering meat dishes in Newari cuisine.

The most common ones are chhoila (spicy boiled or smoked meat), kachila (marinated raw minced buffalo meat), takhala (jellied buffalo meat), sanya-khuna (spicy jellied fish), bhutan (fried meat), among others.

The food is mostly accompanied by homemade wine (aila) and rice beer (thon).

Newari food also uses a lot of garlic and ginger and a variety of pickles.

At the finish of a feast, people are served lapsi ko jhol, which is believed to ease digestion.

The traditional Newari feast involves Sukul Bhoye – sitting on a mat made of straw and eating.

YOMARI PUNHI

On the full moon day in the month of December, Yomari Punhi is celebrated by eating yomari, which is made of rice flour and sweet filling.

NEWARI CONFECTIONS

Confections, locally called mari, are another important aspect of Newari cuisine.

Some of the popular mari are jeri, swari, lakhamari, and laddu.

Confections are an essential part of the food during major Newari rituals.

Hunting down Newari food in Kathmandu is easy since every street corner is sure to have an outstanding place that serves Newari food.