Nepali Momo ( dumplings)

INGREDIENTS

    For 8-10 Servings 

 For the Dough

• 1 kg all purpose or plain flour
• 1 and 1/2 cup water

 For the Filling

• 750 gm Minced Mutton( you can use any meat i.e pork, chicken,beef,turkey, buff)
• 18 stalks of spring onion (finely chopped) (optional)
• 8-10 stalks of fresh coriander leaves (finely chopped)
• 13 medium cloves of garlic
• A thumb of fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp. salt (or according to your taste)
• 2 tsp. ajina moto
• 1 tbsp. chilly powder
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp. meat masala
• 2 tbsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. MO:MO masala
• 3 tbsp. melted butter
• 1 and 1/2 tbsp. dark soy sauce
• 3 tbsp. light soy sauce
• 3 large red onions (finely chopped)
• 200 gm cabbage (finely chopped)
• 3 tbsp. water
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil

 

    

STEPS

 For the dough

1. In a large bowl add the plain flour and make a well in the middle and add 1 cup of water (neither cold nor hot)
2. Mix the flour with the water slowly and knead the dough.Once the dough starts sticking, transfer it to a plain surface and knead it. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of water slowly,and make the dough firm.(do not make the dough too sticky). You may need to knead the dough for 15-20 mins
3. After the dough is firm transfer it to a bowl and cover it with a cling wrap and leave it on the counter for  20 minutes

For the filling 

1. Blend the ginger and garlic and make a paste.
2. In a large mixing bowl add the minced meat, chopped onion, chopped cabbage,chopped coriander leaves, chopped spring onions and mix everything well.
3. After mixing everything add all the spices: ginger and galric paste, momo masala, meat masala, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce,salt, ajina moto, ground black pepper, chilly powder and water and mix everything well with clean hands.
4. Heat a pan and add 3 tbsp vegetable oil and add turmeric powder.
5. Add the heated oil to the mixing bowl.
6. Add melted butter and mix everything well. 
7. Cover the mixture with a cling wrap.
8. Leave it on the counter for at least 30 mins.

For the wrapper

1.  Dust your kitchen counter or table with flour and make a small ball from the dough and flatten it with a rolling pin on a flat surface.(dust the surface before flattening it to prevent it from sticking and do not make it too thin)
2. Use a round object to make a circle. I'm using a stainless steel glass.
3. Repeat the same process and make the circles.
4. You can see the picture below and follow the steps.

Wrapping the meat

1. Take one circle of the wrapper and add the meat in the middle.
2. If your circle of the wrapper is too small add 1 or 2 tsp of meat or if its large add 1 tbsp meat.
3. Follow the process as shown in the picture, if it is your first time making momos, If not you can fold it in any ways according to you preference. 
   
4. Wrap all the momos and keep it on a plain surface. (Dust the surface to prevent the momos  from sticking)
   
   
   
5. After wrapping the dumpling you can steam it or fry it.
6. To steam the dumpling get a steamer and coat the surface steamer with a vegetable oil and transfer your dumpling to the steamer.
   
   
   
7. I am using a 3 tier steamer. Do not forget to boil water on the bottom tier.
8. After the water on the bottom tier is boiled completely add the second tier of steamer where you have your uncooked dumplings (momos) and cover it with a lid.
9. Let it cook for 12-15 mins. ( it depends on how thick your wrapper of the momo is.)
10. Serve it hot with momo ko achar.( momo's pickle)