Momos, dumplings made with either meat or vegetable filling, are the ultimate comfort food. However, a meal of momos is never complete without an accompanying piping hot bowl of clear soup. One can even savour Momo Soup by itself, as a substitute to a hot beverage, like tea or coffee. It can also give much needed relief if you are down with a cold or feeling unwell. Momo Soup is usually made with the broth of pork, chicken or mutton bones, with light seasoning such as salt, pepper, and a little bit of soy sauce. Vegetarians can also make a soup out of vegetable broth, such carrots, potatoes, peas, cauliflower, beet, etc. Sometimes, momo dip, made with a paste of dry red chilies, garlic, and vinegar, is put separately in the Momo Soup to spice it up. The garnishing of chopped spring onions also adds a nice taste and crunch to the soup.
History Of Momos
Theories abound on the exact place of origin of momos. Some say it came from Tibet, while others say it came from Nepal. It is generally perhaps agreed upon that momos were invented sometime around the 14th Century. Momos are also said to have been introduced by the Newar merchants, who hailed from Kathmandu and traded along the Silk Route, to other countries. It is also believed to have been introduced to India, sometime in the 1960s, by the Tibetans who settled in India.
Today, these dumpling delights are among the most popular foods in India, easily available not just in states like Darjeeling and Sikkim, but also in restaurants and street food in other parts of the country.
Here is a simple recipe for Momo Soup:
Ingredients
- 1 kg pork bones
- 1 carrot
- 2 spring onions
- 2 onions
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 4-5 whole peppercorns
- Salt to taste
- Pinch of pepper powder
Method
- Wash the pork bones thoroughly
- Rub the bones with 1 tablespoon salt
- To the bones, add 1 teaspoon vinegar and 5-6 cups of water, then soak it for 30 minutes, and rinse
- Cover the bones with hot water and on low heat let it simmer for about 10-12 minutes
- Remove from fire, and pour out all the water
- Cut 2 onions in quarter pieces
- Chop the carrot into medium-sized pieces
- In a pot, put the bones, add bay leaves, onion, carrots, and whole pepper
- Add water to the pot till all the ingredients are covered
- Then on very low heat simmer for 3 hours
- Take off fire and strain the water
- Add salt as per taste
- Pour the soup into bowls, add chopped spring onions
- Add a pinch of pepper powder
- You can also add half a teaspoon of soy sauce or Worcester sauce to the soup
Momo Soup is easy and quick to make that makes the momo eating experience special and leaves you satiated for the day.