Momos
Photo: TAPAS KUMAR HALDER · CC BY-SA 4.0

History

Momos are steamed dumplings from Tibetan and Nepalese cooking. In Delhi they spread from the Tibetan refugee settlement at Majnu ka Tilla, where the government allotted land by the Yamuna in 1960, to stalls across the city. Delhi's food writers now name thukpa and momos as a first winter meal and a rite of passage for newcomers to the city.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Soy

Make it at home

Yield Makes about 24 momosHands-on 1 hrTotal 1 hr 30 minDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 250g plain flour
  • About 130ml water and a pinch of salt
  • 300g minced chicken
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 spring onions, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger and 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • Salt and black pepper
  • For the chutney: 3 tomatoes, 6 dried red chillies soaked, 3 garlic cloves, salt and a splash of vinegar

Method

  1. Knead the flour, salt and water into a firm, smooth dough and rest it covered for 30 minutes.
  2. Mix the chicken with the onion, spring onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, oil, salt and pepper.
  3. Roll the dough thin and cut 8cm circles.
  4. Put a teaspoon of filling in the centre of each, then pleat and pinch the edges closed.
  5. Steam on an oiled rack over boiling water for 10 to 12 minutes.
  6. Blend the chutney ingredients smooth, simmer 5 minutes, and serve with the hot momos.

Tip from the editors. Roll the edges of each wrapper thinner than the centre so the pleats do not turn doughy.

Where to eat momos

Momos in Delhi

Dolma Aunty Momos ★ 4.5

$ Street foodDefence ColonyCash only

Dolma Aunty Momos has steamed chicken and vegetable momos in Lajpat Nagar's Central Market since 1994, a Delhi momo stall with a fiery chilli chutney.

OrderChicken momos with the red chutney on the side.

TipLook for Shop D 44; closed Mondays, and the chutney runs hot, so ask for less if you want it milder.

Directions

Tee Dee ★ 3.9

$ TibetanMajnu Ka Tilla

Tee Dee has served Tibetan momos, thukpa and breakfast shabalay in Delhi's Majnu ka Tilla colony since 1991, a fixture for the neighborhood.

OrderA plate of pork momos with a bowl of thukpa.

TipIt opens at 09:00 for breakfast bowls of thukpa; later in the day the menu runs to shabaley, tingmo, double fried pork and devil momos.

Directions

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