Typical Nepali Cuisine: Dal Bhat Tarkari
Nepal, with its rich cultural diversity, offers a variety of culinary delights. One of the staple meals is “Dal Bhat Tarkari,” consisting of lentil soup (Dal), steamed rice (Bhat), and vegetable curry (Tarkari). This combination is a daily essential for many Nepalis, especially in rural areas and during treks.
- Dal (Lentil Soup):Prepared using black (Mash), red (Mushuro), or yellow (Mugi) lentils.
- Bhat (Steamed Rice):The quintessential accompaniment to Nepali meals.
- Tarkari (Vegetable Curry):Various vegetables cooked in different styles, forming a crucial part of the meal.
Traditional Delicacies:
- Gundrook-Dheedo:A nutritious dish made from wheat, maize, and dried green vegetables.
- Sag:Green vegetables like spinach, mustard greens, or broad-leaved mustard, commonly served with rice.
- Masu (Meat Curry):Chicken and mutton are popular choices, while buffalo and pork are also consumed.
- Chatamari:Resembling pizza or dosa, it’s a rice flour flatbread with various toppings.
- Choyla:Newari grilled/roasted spicy meat, often served as an appetizer with liquor.
- Gundruk:Dried and fermented green vegetable leaf, used to make a slightly sour soup.
- Kwati:A Newari bean soup, especially enjoyed during festivals.
- Momo:Dumplings filled with minced meat, a favorite appetizer or snack.
- Samay Baji:Beaten rice with roasted meat, smoked fish, and other accompaniments, often a ritual food.
- Sekuwa:Grilled meat, commonly made from mutton, duck, chicken, buffalo, or wild boar.
- Sel:Doughnut-shaped dessert/snack made from rice flour.
- Sukuti:Spicy dried meat, roasted over charcoal fire.
- Aloo Tama:Potato soup made with bamboo shoots.
Relishes:
- Achar:Sour, spicy, or sweet pickles, often made from tomatoes, radish, coriander, or potatoes.
Traditional Drinks:
- Raksi:Strong traditional wine made from millet or rice, a festival favorite.
- Tongba:Millet-based alcoholic beverage, particularly popular among the Limbus.
- Chhyang:Milky white beer/liquor made from fermented rice.
Nepali cuisine reflects the country’s diverse culture and provides a delightful experience for locals and visitors alike.
