(Nepalese) Momo and Tomato chutney

To end the month on a high note, I would like to include one of the traditional delicacies of Nepalese cuisine. The mouthwatering momos and tomato chutney. I used to have momos and tamatar achaar during weekends at our house owner's place when we used to live in Nepal. Three years of schooling in Kathmandu was absolute bliss.

 Speaking of Momos, it comes in different types...fried, boiled and steamed. Am gonna show you the steamed version and the most tastiest of all. It definitely looks complicated and difficult when you see it for the first time but trust me, if you got the patience and time....nothing is impossible. And yeah...forget about perfection!! Love and time is what goes in every tasty dish!! Momos ramro che!! ;)

 Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 kg minced chicken (Buy boneless and blend it in a mixer)
• 1 Big Onion (finely chopped)
• 5-6 cloves of garlic(finely chopped)
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp chilli sauce
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 2 tsp oil
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

1) Mix the flour, salt, oil and add a little water to make a dough.

2) In a bowl, put the minced chicken and add the onions, garlic, soy sauce, chilli sauce, black pepper, salt to it. Mix everything together with hand.

3) Divide the dough into equal-sized balls and roll into very thin circles of roughly 4" diameter.

4) Dab a tiny bit of water on the edges of the circle. Put a tablespoon-full of chicken mixture in the centre of each circle.   Fold the edges over the mixture and pinch and twist to seal (like a modak) or fold the Momo in half (like a gujiya) and pinch the edges shut. Get as creative with the shapes. It needn't be perfect as we are not working for some restaurants. We are Kitchen goddesses.

5)Place the Momos in a steaming dish and cook for 10-15 minutes.

For the Vegetarians:

You can substitute the chicken with spring onion, shreded cabbage, grated paneer and red pepper and follow the same process mentioned above.

Tomato Chutney

Ingredients:

• 3 Tomatoes (large & bright red in color)
• 3 Garlic pods
• 3 Green chillies
• 1 tsp Red chilly powder
• Coriander leaves (Garnishing)
• Salt - to taste

Preparation :

1. Put the tomatoes in boiling water for a few minutes. Remove from water, cool and peel the skin.

2. Mash the tomatoes and add the garlic, green chillies, red chilly powder and salt to taste.

3. Pour the chutney mixture into a mixie and mix into a smooth blend.

4. Transfer the chutney to a small flass bowl and sprinkle a few coriander leaves for that

special flavor.