Nepalese cuisine is one of the most beautiful things about their culture against popular belief. They have a number of dishes that are a blend of amazing flavours that are lip-smacking. Nepalese cuisine takes influence from its neighbours India, Tibet and China. Nepalese cuisine is supposed to be healthy and cooked in less fat. The common dishes involve soups, lean curries, vegetables, salads, lean meat, pickles, and curd. The ingredients include tomatoes, chillies, coriander, garlic and mustard oil.
Dal-Bhaat
The staple food of each Nepali household, Dal Bhat is mainly rice served along with lentil soup and vegetable curry or chicken (or meat). This meal is the most beloved one amongst Nepali people as it’s wholesome and provides with the needed nutrition.
Momos
The next very popular dish is Momos. This is one of the favourites for tourists and is a must try for everyone visiting Nepal. Momos are small envelopes of white flour stuffed with veggies or minced lamb or chicken. They are served with different kinds of sauces and mayonnaise which makes the combination a delicious snack. This food in Nepal has taken India by storm and is a popular street food across many countries as well.
Wo or Bara
Wo is a kind of pancakes made by the Newari people of Nepal. The Newaris are an indigenous group of locals in the Kathmandu valley. Wo is made with ground lentil (green or black) batter during the ‘Sithi Nakha’, a Newari festival. These Dal patties are light and perfect for snacks. For non-vegetarians, Bara can also be added with minced chicken and battered egg.
Sel Roti
A fusion of doughnut and bagel, Sel Roti is one of the most sought after snack in Nepal during festivals like Tihar and Dashain. It is a circular rice flour bread which is deeply fried to make it crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. It is crispy and sweet and tastes best with yoghurt or veggies. Being a popular festival food in Nepal, this dish is a must on your culinary bucket list.
Everest Beer
This local Nepali beer is made with rice and is a cheap buy. You might want to give it a go if you are a beer fan. There is also another local alcohol called Raksi which is the traditional beverage of Limbu people and it is normally served with pork or beef meat.
Yomari
A sweet dish prepared from rice dough and stuffed with a sweet paste made of coconut, sesame seeds and molasses, Yomari is a festival food in Nepal, made only during the festival of Yomari Punhi. This festival is celebrated each year in the winters to thank the Gods for a good harvest. This dish is very famous is Kathmandu and you might also find its spicy version made with lentil.
Gorkhali Lamb
It is a collection of assorted flavours all stuffed into one package. Gorkhali lamb is essentially a curry dish which is prepared by slow-cooking the lamb in the curry along with potatoes and onions. It is then removed from the curry, grilled and covered with a layer of spicy chilli mix giving it the intense flavour. It is then put back into to curry to cook for a bit longer. Lamb is one of the favourites of the Nepalese and this dish will surely be something worth trying.
Juju Dhau
Also known as the ‘king curd’, Juju Dhau is a type of yoghurt. It is a creamy, thick and sweet dish normally preferred as a dessert. Made with buffalo milk, this dish is very famous among the Newaris people and is a must try if you are visiting Bhaktapur. You’ll find a lot of street-side vendors selling Juju Dhau in Bhaktapur.
Thukpa
It is a noodle soup, served in the mountains of Nepal during winters. It can have meat, egg or simply just vegetables. It is normally served along with a dish called Momos. This dish carries along with it a lot of inspiration from the Tibetan and Chinese cuisines. The meat used in Thukpa can be goat, lamb, chicken or even yak. This dish is more like a survival kit against the shivering cold on the mountains. Along with a great taste, it provides the locals with the perfect nutrients they need.
Indian Snacks
A lot of Indian origin snacks like Pani Puri, Jalebi and drinks like Lassi are also available in Nepal. So if you’re looking forward to trying some of the most famous Indian snacks and drinks you’ll surely find them being sold by street-side vendors in Nepal. I’ll advise you to consume these from clean and hygienic stalls where the food served is fresh.
These were the 17 must-try food in Nepal and almost all of them are available everywhere in Nepal and so they won’t be hard to find. Try them all and you won’t regret missing anything in Nepal.
Growing Up Eating 