A dish commonly found in Nepal and Tibet, momo is a dumpling filled with a range of fillings and spices but today we're making chicken momo and pairing it alongside a spicy achar, or dipping sauce.
ingredients
filling
- 190g chicken mince
- ¼ cup cabbage, minced
- ¼ cup fresh coriander, minced
- 1 spring onion, minced
- ¼ red onion, minced
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
- 1 tbsp hot oil
Mix everything in a bowl and let it sit for about 1 hour to let the flavours infuse.
momo schar (Spicy Dipping Sauce)
- ½ tbsp oil
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 red chilli, minced
- ½ tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 2 dried chillies
- ½ red onion, minced
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped (cover and cook 2 mins)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
- ¼ tsp Sichuan peppercorn powder
for the blender
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp toasted peanuts
- Fresh coriander, chopped
- Water (as needed to loosen mixture)
other
- Store-bought dumpling wrappers
- Coriander, chopped
- Chilli oil
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped peanuts
method
- Make the achar base – Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle for a few seconds. Stir in red chilli, dried chillies, and ginger garlic paste.
- Cook down aromatics – Add red onion and tomatoes, cooking for 1 minute. Then cover and cook for 4–5 minutes until the tomatoes soften.
- Season & blend – Add all spices, mix well, then transfer to a blender with fresh coriander, toasted sesame seeds, and peanuts. Blend into a smooth mixture, adding water if needed to adjust consistency. Set aside.
- Assemble the momos – Place ½ tbsp filling in the center of each wrapper. Dab water along the edges, then pleat and pinch to seal tightly so the filling doesn’t leak.
- Steam the momos – Once wrapped, steam for 7–8 minutes until cooked through.
- Plate & garnish – Spread momo achar on the base of your serving plate (or serve in a small bowl). Top momo with chilli oil, chopped coriander, sesame seeds, and toasted peanuts.
