Nepal is a multi-religious country where people follow different tradition, culture, religion, and lifestyle. There are thirty-six different ethnic groups in Nepal which are distinct from each other in every way. They have their own language, culture and custom, food, dress, and even festivals. So, today we will talk about the foods of Nepal. Western foods like burgers and pizza have taken the cities and towns by storm. But the taste of authentic food is something that can’t be beaten. If you have come to Nepal, you must try enjoying the taste of the authentic Nepali food. So,  here goes the list of the must-try food of Nepal while you are in Nepal.

Dal-Bhat-Tarkari

Dal Bhat and Tarkari is the authentic food of Nepal and is also the main food of Nepali. It is consumed two times a day as lunch and dinner. The food is very rich in carbohydrates, protein and all sort of essentials for the body. The food is served with the combination of many items, some of the regular ones are bhat (cooked rice), dal (pulse soup), tarkari (curry), chutney and other items as per the taste of the person. You might think it is boring to eat the same meal each day twice the time. Well, except for the rice everything gets changes from meal to meal. For example, different vegetables are used in curry, other kinds of pulses are used for dal, non-vegetarian prefer to add meat as one of the items. So, it may sound boring, but as the items get changed every time, they are varied and tasty.

Dhindo and Gundruk

Although the Dal and Bhat is the main food of Nepal, dhindo and gundruk is the national food of Nepal. Dhindo is a very old and traditional food of Nepal which is prepared by boiling water and adding flour while continuously stirring the mix. It is prepared from buckwheat or millet flour, but wheat and corn flour are the commonly used one. While gundruk is a fermented leafy green vegetable and it serves as curry in the dhindo and gundruk cuisine.

Eating dhindo and gundruk may not be as easy as eating dal and bhat. It is very sticky in hand and in the mouth too, if you don’t know how to eat. It is eaten by making a small ball with fingers, dipping in the curry of gundruk and swallowing. Yes, you heard it right, it is swallowed not chewed. If you chew it, it will stick between teeth.

Newari Khaja Set

The Newar community of Nepal is very rich in culture and tradition. And, their foods are also as rich as their customs. Newari Khaja is probably one of the popular and favorite cuisines of Nepal. Newari Khaja comprises many items but in a small amount. Some of the common items are chiura (beaten rice), bhuttan (deeply fried gut), kachila (raw marinated minced meat), hakuchoila (grounded spiced and broiled meat) and takhaa (jellied soup). The khaja set is also served with home-made wine, which makes it even more devouring.

Sel Roti

Sel roti is a very popular food item of Nepal. It is a traditional homemade, sweet, ring-shaped rice bread. Sel roti is made from rice flour by adding different flavors as per the taste. It is made by semi-liquid rice flour dough, which is prepared by adding milk, ghee, water, sugar, butter, cloves, cardamom, and other flavors. When the semi-liquid dough is ready, it is deep fried in boiling oil or ghee. Sel roti is prepared mainly during the time of festivals like Dashain and Tihar or the special celebration like marriage, puja or any functions. Sel roti is usually eaten with the curry, meats or aachar. Sel roti has special importance in Nepal as it symbolizes the culture of Nepal.

Momo

Momo is also called dumpling in many parts of the world. Momo is the favorite and the popular food of Nepal. Mainly in the valley of Kathmandu, Momo is the most eaten food. They are served in big five stars hotels and the street as well. There are different kinds of momo with different fillings, but the buff (buffalo meat) one is the most famous one. You can eat momo as per your preference on what type of filling you want inside it. There is meat momo, in which buff, chicken, pork and mutton are mostly used. In veg momo, there is cabbage, a carrot which is commonly used. There is cheese momo as well. And, the khoa momo is filled with milk solids mixed with sugar and they are found in the Kathmandu. Apart from the filling, the aachar/chutney is another best part of momo. In Nepal, momos are eaten by dipping a piece of momo in aachar. After trying this food if you like it, then you can take momo class in Thamel and try it at home and enjoy with friends and family.

Kheer

Kheer is one of the popular dishes of Nepal. It is rice pudding, but believe me, it is way better than the usual rice pudding you have eaten. It is prepared during the special occasion like birthday, parties or festivals. It serves as the dessert in Nepali culture.  Kheer is made by boiling rice (mainly basmati), broken wheat, tapioca or vermicelli with milk and sugar. To add the flavor, cardamom, saffron, cashews, almonds, and raisins are added.

Kwati

Kwati is the traditional dish of Nepal which is consumed during the festival of Janai Purnima (usually falls in August). It is eaten as a delicacy and for its health benefits and ritual significance as well. It is prepared by the mixture of nine sprouted beans; they are black gram, chickpea, green gram, soybean, garden pea, field bean, field pea, cowpea, and rice bean. All these beans are cooked together with various spices to make a thick soup. Kwati is very healthy food, and it cures a cold, cough and is one of the best food for women in their maternity leave. As it contains many proteins, it helps weak and sick to retain the energy.

Other items to try

There is a long list of food in Nepal which you must try. Apart from the above list, other foods you can try are:

–Chatamari: a rice pancake with different toppings like meat, vegetables, and egg.

–Juju Dhau: delicious yogurt in Bhaktapur

–Kinema: serves as curry and is made from fermented soybean

–Bara: lentil based fried with different toppings like meat, egg or just plain bara

–Wo: lentil based cake type of snack

–Sinki: serves as curry, which is made of the fermented root part of carrots

–Yomari: made of rice flour and filled with molasses, khuwa (milk solid) and sesame seed.

–Aloo Tama: curry made from aloo (potato) and tama (bamboo shoots)