Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Next Stop: Nepal

Nepali culture is very similar to the cultures of Tibet, and India, which borders to the south. There are similarities in clothing, language and food. A typical Nepali meal is dal-bhat - boiled dahl served with rice and vegetables, and some spicy relish. This is consumed twice daily, with Tarkari (vegetable curries), once in the morning and again after sunset. Between these main meals, snacks such as chura/Baji (beaten rice) and tea are consumed. Sometimes, meat, eggs, and fish (considered a treat) preparations are also consumed. In the mountainous region the staple diet is based on wheat, maize, millet (a cereal crop) and potatoes. Millet-based alcoholic drinks known as Tongba and other cereal based alcohol are popular, including chhaang and the distilled rakshi.

Some vegetarian foods and dishes are:
Baji – a preparation from flattened rice
Wauncha Tukan – green mustard vegetable
Bhuti – a preparation of white beans
Pharsi – pumpkin curry
Lainsoo – dried radish curry
Simpu – bran curry
Pahmaya – curry of green pulsespulse
Hamoh Kwa – sesame seed curry
Chhou Kwa – bamboo shoot soup
Dhau – yogurt
Sakhah – brown sugar to accompany dhau
Sisabusa – raw radish, raw peas, and fresh fruit pieces

Some meat foods and dishes are:
Della – meat placed atop baji
Tahkugu Pukala – big slice of fried meat
Cheekugu Pukala – small pieces of fried meant
Tahkha – jelly meat
Chhakoola – meat pieces in curry
Dayekala – meat curry
Hayenla – meat curry with ginger
Gorma – white jellied meat

Information from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal#Culture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Nepal#Food_and_drink

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This used to be a family favourite of ours - though we haven't been for a while.

Let me know what you think.

Philip