As word of my mom’s delicious cooking spread, we started selling Nepali food at block parties on the Madison campus. The lines were always long and the feedback always positive. Eventually, this led to opening a small food cart, called “Himal Chuli,” on the University library mall. “Himal Chuli” means the kitchen of the mountains.

Momos are the quintessential Nepali/Tibetan food. Typically filled with a lightly spiced meat, they are little dumplings eaten with a spicy tomato sauce, a delicious comfort food. Every Nepali household has its own recipe and I too have created my own version. Enjoy this momo recipe, from my family to yours.

Dal is a hearty soup that can be a meal in itself for the whole family. I often have it for lunch with some wilted greens. It is traditional to have some plain steamed rice with this Dal or enjoy with amaranth, or wild rice for a wholesome gluten-free option.