Nepali Momo Food

NEPALI MOMO (NEPALESE MEAT DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Dough: In a large bowl combine flour, oil, salt and water.
• Mix well, knead until the dough becomes homogeneous in texture, about 8-10 minute.
• Cover and let stand for at least 30 minute.
• Knead well again before making wrappers.
• Filling: In a large bowl combine all filling ingredients.
• Mix well, adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow all ingredients to impart their unique flavors.
• This also improves the consistency of the filling.
• Assembly:.
• Give the dough a final knead.
• Prepare 1-in. dough balls.
• Take a ball, roll between your palms to spherical shape.
• Dust working board with dry flour.
• On the board gently flatten the ball with your palm to about 2-in circle.
• Make a few semi-flattened circles, cover with a bowl.
• Use a rolling pin to roll out each flattened circle into a wrapper.
• For well executed MOMO's, it is essential that the middle portion of the wrapper be slightly thicker than the edges to ensure the structural integrity of dumplings during packing and steaming.
• Hold the edges of the semi-flattened dough with one hand and with the other hand begin rolling the edges of the dough out, swirling a bit at a time.
• Continue until the wrapper attains 3-in diameter circular shape.
• Repeat with the remaining semi-flattened dough circles.
• Cover with bowl to prevent from drying.
• For packing hold wrapper on one palm, put one tablespoon of filling mixture and with the other hand bring all edges together to the center, making the pleats.
• Pinch and twist the pleats to ensure the absolute closure of the stuffed dumpling.
• This holds the key to good tasting, juicy dumplings.
• Heat up a steamer, oil the steamer rack well.
• This is critical because it will prevent dumplings from sticking.
• Arrange uncooked dumplings in the steamer.
• Close the lid, and allow steaming until the dumplings are cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Take dumplings off the steamer and serve immediately.
• Alternatively, you can place uncooked dumplings directly in slightly salted boiling water and cook until done, approximately 10 minutes. Be careful not to over boil the dumplings.
• You may also slightly sauté cooked dumplings in butter before serving.
• To serve, arrange the cooked dumplings (MOMO's) on serving plate with hot tomato achar or any other chutneys as condiment.

NEPALI MOMO

Steps:

• Mix together the flour and 1 1/2 cups room temperature water in a bowl. Knead the dough well until it is medium-firm and flexible. Cover and let rest for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, mix together the chicken, cilantro, onions, garlic, ginger, cumin, cinnamon, 2 tablespoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a bowl.
• To make the wrappers: Break off 1/2 ounce of dough and forming it into a ball. Place the ball on a flat surface and roll it into a 4-inch round with a rolling pin. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Spray a steamer pan with cooking spray.
• Place a tablespoon of the chicken filling in the middle of a wrapper. Holding the wrapper in your left hand. Use your right thumb and index finger to start pinching the edges of the wrapper together. Pinch and fold until the edges of the circle close up like a little satchel. Place the momo in the prepared steamer pan. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
• Fill the steamer pot halfway with water and bring to a boil. Set the steamer pan with the momos on top of the pot and cover with a tight lid. Steam the momos until cooked, 8 to 9 minutes.

PORK MOMOS (NEPALESE DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• To make the dough, tip the flour and a pinch of salt into a bowl. Add the oil to the flour and combine well with your hands. Slowly add 100ml water and knead the dough until it is stretchy. Cover with cling film and leave the dough to rest.
• Tip all the filling ingredients into a bowl and season with salt. Use your hands to combine thoroughly.
• Divide the dough into 20 balls (each should weigh about 15g). Dust your work surface with flour and roll the balls into thin circles using a rolling pin.
• Spoon about 1 tsp filling in the centre of one circle, then use your thumb and forefinger to pinch together an edge of the dough into a fold.
• Continue to pinch along the edge of the circle and work your way all the way round.
• Bring all the pinched edges of the circle together to cover the filling and twist the top to seal it. Repeat with the rest of the dough and filling.
• Fill a bamboo steamer with water, layer the base with baking parchment and pierce some holes in it.
• Working in two to three batches, place the momos on the baking parchment and steam for 10 mins. They should look transparent and not feel sticky when fully cooked. Keep warm while you steam the rest.
• While the momos are steaming, mix all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl with 2 tbsp water. Serve the hot momos with the sauce for dipping.