Dumplings Around the World · Nepal 🇳🇵

Nepali Momos

45 min
Makes 26
Published May 17, 2020
Nepali Momos

Continuing the dumpling journey in Nepal. Steamed parcels of spiced ground chicken with onion, cilantro, ginger and garlic — served with a punchy tomato-sesame-peanut sauce that can double as a soup.

Wonton wrappers are a perfectly honest shortcut here. Don't crowd the steamer — give each momo room so the wrapper stays silky and the filling cooks through evenly.

Ingredients

Makes 26

Nepali Momo

  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1 small onion, small dice
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (1-inch) knob ginger, grated
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 26 wrappers or ½ recipe for pierogi dough

Momo Sauce/Soup

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 tablespoon of garam masala, whole spices
  • 1 (15-ounces) can diced tomatoes
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, roughly chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1-inch ginger, sliced
  • ½ cup sesame seeds, toasted
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 cups chicken broth (optional)
  • **

Method

45 min

  1. In a large bowl, place all the ingredients and mix until uniform mass forms.

  2. To make dumplings place a small mound of filling in the middle of the wrapper. Moist edges of wrapper with water. Seal dumpling into desire shape by pinching/folding the wrapper tightly together.

  3. To cook dumplings, feel wok (or another pan) with water and bring it to a gentle boil. Line the bamboo steamer with a piece of perforated parchment paper, napa cabbage leaves, or another suitable liner. Place dumplings in the bamboo steamer. Do not overcrowd dumplings. Place bamboo steamer in pot. Steam dumplings for approximately 7-9 minutes. Serve with spicy dipping sauce or in the soup.

  4. Momo Sauce/Soup: In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the Garam Masala and bloom until fragrant, for about 1 minute. Add tomatoes, garlic, and ginger and cook for about 10 minutes. Transfer to a blender. Add sesame seeds, peanut butter, and cilantro. Blend on high speed, until smooth. Return the sauce to the pot and bring to boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes. If you desire to make a soup, add chicken broth before bringing the sauce to the boil.

Bon Appétit

Originally published on Daga's Cooking Journal.