Recipes - Kathmandu Delight Momo

Ingredients:

Dough for wrappers:

• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 cup water or as required
• Pinch of salt

Filling:

• 1 lb. shrimp, cleaned, deveined and minced
• 1 lb. ground pork
• 1 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon timur (Szechwan pepper)
• 1/2 nutmeg, grated
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground mustard seeds
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon hot chili powder
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• Salt and Pepper

Cooking Instructions:

For stuffing mixture, combine all filling ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix well, adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow all ingredients to impart their unique flavors. This also improves the consistency of the filling.

In a large bowl combine flour, oil, salt and water. Mix well, knead until the dough becomes homogeneous in texture, about 10 minutes. Cover and let stand for at least 15 min. Knead well again before making wrappers. Prepare 1-in. diameter dough balls. It is recommended to work with a dozen or so balls at a time to prevent from drying. Take a dough ball, roll between your palms to spherical shape. Dust working board with dry flour. On the board gently flatten the ball with your palm. Then roll out into 3-in diameter wrapper. Repeat with the remaining dough balls. Cover with bowl to prevent from drying.

For packing hold wrapper on one palm; press at the centre to make a pouch. Place one tablespoon of filling mixture into the pouch and pinch the wrapper to create four pleats so that the top is open. Make sure the stuffing is tightly packed into the wrapper. Repeat with other wrappers.

Heat up a steamer, oil the steamer rack well. This is critical because it will prevent dumplings from sticking. Arrange uncooked MOMOs in the steamer with some space left between the dumplings. Close the lid, and allow steaming until the dumplings are cooked through, about 10-15 min. Take the dumplings off the steamer, and immediately serve. You may also slightly sauté cooked dumplings in butter before serving. To serve, arrange the cooked MOMOs on a plate dressed with Sherpa MOMO Achar.