Nepalese cuisine is delicious and unique, packed with flavor and influence from its neighboring countries of India, Tibet, and China. It is also naturally very healthy as the dishes are often plant-based and cooked with little fat. Many dishes are vegetarian due to Hindu influence and are nutrient-dense, providing all the macros needed to survive the various climates and environments this small country has.
Here are 8 Nepali dishes you’ll be sure to try during your time there.
Here are 8 dishes to try during your time there:
Staple Nepali Dishes: Thali, Daal Bhaat & Curry
Once you arrive in Nepal, treat yourself with one of the nation’s staple dishes, Daal bhaat. Wherever you find this meal, have certainty it will taste homemade, comforting and packed with essential nutrients for the body. It’s the perfect meal to have before an adventure ahead. Made of bhaat, or rice, and dal, this lentil soup is typically served as part of a thali or meal set with a curry, pickled greens, and vegetables. The perfect balance of cooked and fresh ingredients in one plate.
Photo credit: Ashley Blake
Momos
Momos are perhaps one of the most popular snacks too and a traveler’s favorite due to its prevalence and variety of flavors. Momos are a Nepali-style dumpling filled with veggies, chicken or lamb and then topped with different types of sauces. Pro tip: You can order them steamed or kothey style where they’re grilled for a delicious crunch.
Photo credit: Ashley Blake
Thukpa
Once you get to this travelers’ paradise, you will realize the weather calls for a warm and hearty soup much of the time. Just like in many regions of Asian, noodles are a staple, especially in a soup, with a variety of vegetables and spices. Thukpa is a traditional noodle soup usually enjoyed up in the cold mountains and is influenced by the Chinese and Tibetan cuisines.
Samay Bajj
Another staple dish that has been passed through generations is Samay Baji. If you want to have a dish that has a little bit of everything from the culture’s cuisine, go for this. As mentioned, the Nepali culture has many influences from other cuisines. Due to its proximity to India, many of its dishes avoid the usage of beef and instead use buffalo meat. In Samay Bajj, buffalo meat is barbecued and served on a plate with a boiled egg, flattened rice (which is rice beaten into dry flakes), spicy potato salad and fresh vegetables.
Pakoras
Most cuisines have at least one dish or food item that is deep-fried to perfection. In the Nepali culture, they have a street food style staple in the mountains called pakoras. There are other countries in the region that have this same food item, and they vary with the region. In Nepal, pakoras are usually made from vegetables and herbs and as mentioned, fried. Which makes it the perfect complement after a long days’ hike!
Sel Roti
As a snack people from Nepal enjoy Sel Roti, which is a hybrid between a doughnut and a bagel. Made from rice flour and it is deep-fried to give it its crunchy outer texture and fluffy inside and it is usually enjoyed with yogurt or plain vegetables.
Newari pizza & Wo
Newari cuisine comes from the native Newari, an indigenous group located in the Kathmandu Valley. Be sure to try the Newari pizza, this popular dish is a dough made from rice flour and is very thin and round, like a crepe. It is cooked with minced meats, onions, chilies and a lot of spices. Also is the Wo a traditional pancake created by the These super nutritious pancakes are made from lentil batter and can be enjoyed by themselves or with minced chicken.
Photo credit: Ashley Blake
Yomari & Juju Dhau
To satisfy the sweet tooth, you will be able to enjoy Yomari, a coconut, sesame seed and molasses sweet paste wrapped in rice dough. As well as Juju Dhau is a thick and creamy yogurt made from buffalo milk and it is usually enjoyed as a dessert due to its sweet flavor.
Photo credit: Caitlinn van der Kuilen
Getting to try the traditional nepali dishes and street food of the places you travel to because it gives you a glimpse of how the cultural tastes and the differences in flavor to the traditional food you are from. If you are interested in getting to experience the one in a lifetime experience in Nepal with us, check our itinerary.
If you’re interested in more cultural food blogs, we have those too.
