country Essentials · 11 foods
Nepal Essentials
A considered first route through Nepal: the foods that carry its everyday habits, celebrations, ingredients, and memory.
Explore all Nepal foods →THE
ESSENTIALS
The complete shortlist
11 foods to know.
Each selection includes the reason it belongs here—so this is a guide, not just a pile of names.
Nepal
Dal Bhat
दाल भात
The daily rice, lentil and vegetable or meat set, replenished plate by plate from Terai to mountains.
Tibet, China
Momos
ममः
Nepal's ubiquitous steamed or fried filled dumplings, sought with a sharp tomato-sesame achar.
Nepal
Sel Roti
सेल रोटी
Sweet ring of fermented rice batter fried crisp for Dashain, Tihar and family celebrations.
Nepal
Gundruk
गुन्द्रुक
Fermented leafy greens dried for storage and cooked into an earthy, sour soup or side.
Nepal
Dhindo
ढिँडो
Thick corn, millet or buckwheat porridge stirred until elastic and eaten by pinching it into curry.
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Samay Baji
समय् बजि
Newari ceremonial spread of beaten rice, meat, legumes, egg and intensely seasoned accompaniments.
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Chhoila
छ्वोला
Newari grilled or cooked meat tossed with mustard oil, chilli, garlic and toasted spice.
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Bara (Wo)
बरा
Newari black-lentil pancake, plain or topped with egg or minced meat and fried until crisp-edged.
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Yomari
योमरी
Kathmandu Valley rice-flour dumpling pinched into a tapered shape around molasses and sesame filling.
Bhaktapur, Nepal
Juju Dhau
जुजु धौ
Bhaktapur's rich buffalo-milk yogurt set in porous clay pots until thick and gently caramel-like.
Koshi and Eastern Nepal, Nepal
Tongba
तोङ्बा
Warm fermented millet drunk through a filtered straw and repeatedly topped up with hot water.