On the streets of North Eastern India, Nepal, and Tibet, momos are a popular dish. They are simply steamed dumplings that are loaded with ground pork. Over recent years, vegetarians and vegans have shown a growing preference for fillings made from vegetables and this article will give you a comprehensive momos recipe guide to follow when you want to make yours.
The only things you really need are some time and patience if you want to get the ideal pleats in your momos. It is difficult to find a better way to spend any day of the week than with a dish of sizzling dim sum and a dipping sauce that is just as fiery.
The widespread Nepalese momos that can be seen throughout India served as an inspiration for this delicacy. They are known as 'dim sum' in several other Asian countries.
What are momos?
Dough-wrapped momos are little dumplings that are filled with a tablespoon of filling. While momo is often steamed, the dish may also be fried or steam-fried.
Fillings such as meat or vegetables become tender and juicy when cooked in a soup that has been tightly wrapped within the wonton wrappers. After the meal became famous among Asians, Nepalese chefs experimented with new ways to prepare it.
Although the vegetable momos themselves are mild in flavour, the sauce that comes with them is rather hot. I have a great recipe for a spicy momos sauce, which we refer to as Momos Chutney.
Ingredients in Momos recipe
At one of the numerous booths scattered around the market, you may order a momo in almost any flavour you can think of. It is crammed with a variety of ingredients, such as meat, veggies, paneer, tofu, and other items besides those.
Several veggies may be used to make fillings, including carrots, onions, cabbage, and capsicum. These include, amongst other things, baby corn, green beans, bean sprouts, and mushrooms, all of which are vegetables. The flavour of the veggie filling is not overpowering.
As a direct result of this, a sauce that is on the hot side is highly recommended for dipping. They may be moulded with relative simplicity, albeit doing so in an appropriate way needs a certain level of knowledge and experience.
Nutritional Facts on Momos
A single serving of Momos has around 35 calories in it. Carbohydrates provide 16 calories, proteins contribute 2 calories, and fat contributes the remaining calories for a total of 32 calories.
A single serving of Momos contributes about 2 per cent of the calories that are required daily by an average adult.
Serving momos
Momos, which are often prepared with veggies and a spicy sauce, are a fan favourite at dining establishments. A straightforward dish for Southeast Asian cuisine that you can whip up whenever the craving strikes..
The regions of Gangtok, Darjeeling, and Siliguri, which are all located in the northeastern part of India, are home to some of the nation's most delectable momos. The sauce that is supplied with the momos is very spicy and hot. It goes extremely well with the momos.
Although the veggie momos themselves have a more subdued taste, the sauce that is served with them is rather spicy. It is common practice to serve momos with a savoury soup that complements and amplifies the taste of the momos.
How to make vegetable momos with a veggie momos recipe
First, prepare the dough for veg momos. Using enough water, knead the plain flour, oil, and salt into a semi-soft dough in a large basin. Keep the dough covered for 10 minutes with a moist muslin cloth or a lid in the refrigerator.
Add the garlic, ginger, and green chillies to a non-stick skillet and sauté for a few seconds over medium heat. On medium heat, add the carrots, capsicums, onions, and cabbage into the skillet and combine well.
Cook, stirring periodically, for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, soy sauce, salt, and pepper, and simmer for a few seconds. Add the greens of the spring onion.
Now divide the dough equally into Indian veggie momos. Place 1 tbsp of the prepared filling in the centre of a 3-4 inch diameter thin circle rolled out of the dough using a little plain flour for rolling.
Pinch the two sides together while you hold it between your hands. Bend and squeeze the opposite open side to produce a crescent shape.
Momos should be steamed for 10–12 minutes in an oiled steamer, or until they are cooked through. Serve with chutney and mayonnaise right away. Shaping the momos
Because there are only a few different ways to form a momo, here is where your imagination may run wild. The following are some basic yet effective methods.
● Stuff the middle of each mushroom with 2 to 3 tablespoons of veggie filling and bake for 20 minutes
● Raise one edge and pleat
● Start pinning the momos together
● Gather all of the pleats together in the middle
● Joining the edges is a basic method for forming momos. This is a simple way to do it. The momo resembles a gujiya or karanji in form
● Bring the two ends together and attach them together
● A damp napkin may be used to keep the momos fresh until you're ready to steam them.
Steaming the Momos
Before you start, make sure that your steamer is all set up. In addition to using it in a pressure cooker or an instant pot, it is possible to use a bamboo steamer or a steamer insert in a regular pot. You may also find an idli steaming plate helpful.
After the momos have been created, place them on a tray and cook them by steaming them or cooking them in an idly cooker with a little water. First, bring a big saucepan's worth of water to a boil, and then put it on the steamer plate.
Steam the meal for around seven minutes using a heat setting that is anywhere between medium and high. The dumplings will be shiny and finished when they are a few millimetres bigger in diameter than they were when we began.
Pro Tips for Making momo
Give the dough some time to relax before continuing. If there is not enough time for additional preparation, you may use dough that has been allowed to rest for at least 20 minutes. If, on the other hand, you allow the dough to rest for an extended amount of time, it will become silkier and more springy.
When the momo wraps are done, you will need to move swiftly so as not to lose them. There is a possibility that they may dry out too soon, which will make it more difficult to seal them in the future.
The amount of time it will take for your momos to cook is going to be influenced by several different variables, such as the kind of stove you are using, the amount of filling, and the temperature.
The Instructions to Follow
Firm and tight dough is required. To avoid making the dough too soft, do not add any additional water. It will be difficult to mould a soft dough.
For the filling, you may use whichever vegetables you choose for the stuffing. Fresh mushrooms may be used for the dried ones in this recipe. Mash or boil potatoes with paneer.
Spices, herbs, and other spices are available for experimentation here.
When steaming the dumplings, make sure to leave some room between each one. You don't want the momos to cling together after they've been steamed. Even an Idli steamer may be used to steam the batter in an Instant Pot.
After the momos have been cooked, the dough should no longer be sticky when you touch it. In addition, the momos will seem to be translucent.
Conclusion
To obtain the perfect pleats in your momos, all you need is a little time and patience. Dim sum eaten with a spicy dipping sauce is an excellent, robust, and filling meal any time of the day or night. The above momos recipe is a great guide that will help you when you want to make a delicious recipe.
If you're looking for an easy-to-make dish that's low in calories and high in cleanliness, then this one is for you!
FAQS
How do you make momos without wheat?
The dough may be made using rice flour and hot water.
Is it safe to eat momos?
When you buy momos from the store, you can expect them to be prepared from white flour and filled with a substantial quantity of oil, sauces, and other unhealthy ingredients. So it isn't exactly a nutritious meal. You can, however, make it more nutritious at home by substituting healthy components.