Love for street foods in Kathmandu

 

Rozzina Gurung

2020April 20

The use of organic and fresh produce has become one of the defining characteristics of street food. Street food is a delicious and healthy food option at a much cheaper price. This transforms street food into providing an unparalleled experience for all those who take part.

Street foods are gaining more and more popularity and have become a major source of income for many families who has started their own business in the street using a push cart or a barrow. They set up their business in mostly crowded area with a continuous flow of people. As the prices of the food are affordable and delicious people doesn’t hesitate to take a bite and enjoy the food even in the side of the streets when passing by.

Nepal has a wide variety of ethnic cuisines. From Tibetan to Newari to Thakali, Nepal has it all. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and has a dozens of street vendors offering delicious food items with hygiene.

Popular street foods:

1.    Laphing

Laphing is a cold noodle dish made from flour starch or potato. Many restaurants serve it with chili sauce. Ingredients like onion, coriander, garlic, and vinegar to enhance the flavour, and make it spicier. Since it is quick and easy to serve, you won’t have to wait long for it to arrive. It is a popular street food available in Kathmandu and known for its spicy flavor.

2.    Panipuri and Chatpatey

PaniPuri is the easiest street food available in the streets of Kathmandu. The water is heavily seasoned which makes it pani whereas the crisp, puffed deep fried bread is the puri. The puri is stuffed with potatoes, chili, and onion and then dipped into the pani before it is served whereas Chatpatey is the mixture of puffed rice, dry noodles, potatoes, chili,onion and desired spices. The taste is usually a bit different with a twist of their own by the vendors.It is a delicacy among spice lovers and is desired by most Nepalese people.

3.    Sekuwa

Sekuwa is the best option if you love having barbequed meat. You can easily find one place where they have grills fired outside their door. You can easily get to know their distinct Nepali flavor because of all the spices used and the irresistible aroma that can be sensed even from far away. You can choose from chicken or mutton sewara or buff depending on your taste.

4.    MoMo

Momo is a very popular street food. An average Nepali consumes around four plates per week. They are available in street, restaurants, hotels, and roadside carts. It is a steamed dumpling where meat is stuffed in flour. Varieties like pork, chicken, and veg momo are also available. They are served with other varieties of chutney. You can consume them steamed, fried, or in the soup.

5.    Dahipuri

Puri, a small crunchy shell made from dough is found in almost every corner in the street. DahiPuri is another popular dish loved by all. The puri is stuffed with chickpeas and potato mixture; then it is drizzled with dahi (yogurt), tamarind sauce, coriander, seasoned with chili and cumin powder. It is sweet and  abit of sour taste with the mixture of the seasonings.

6.    Samosa and samosa chat

Samosa is a deep fried dish that has a filling of mashed potato, peas, onions, and other spices. It tastes best with a hot cup of tea leaving you with a sense of satisfaction and also made it into samosa chatby breaking it into pieces, and it is then topped with tomato, onion, yellow peas, curd, and coriander. Spices like chili powder, himalayan salt, and cumin powder are added to enhance the taste.