Rildok: Lumpy Potato Soup To Warm You Up From Inside Out

As the winter chill has fully set in, we have wrapped cozy sweaters around us and started sipping hot chocolate and other winter delights. Soups are popular food items all year long but are especially popular and beneficial during the winter. And why not? It is essential to stay not just from the outside but also from the inside. And soup could be a perfect choice. 

Also Read: Chhaang: A Nepalese And Tibetan Alcoholic Beverage

You may have tried so many soothing soups but have you ever tried a lumpy potato soup? We are talking of rildok, a soup popular within the Sherpa community. For those who don’t know, the Sherpas are indigenous people settled in the mountainous areas in the Himalayas. People from the sherpa community are known for their mountaineering skills. Their staple diet mostly consists of barley, potato, locally grown vegetables, meat, and other products from Yak and milk.  

Sherpa cuisine is humble and simple. Their food is relatively straightforward because of being loaded with vegetables and high vitamin and fiber content. There are so many dishes in their cuisine that one should definitely try at least once but this piece is dedicated to rildok. Some call it a delicious stew while for some it is lumpy potato soup. It is a soup made to fill you up and warm you through the cold elevation and months in the Himalayas. It is filled with dumplings made from mashed potatoes. It has timur which gives it a vibrant flavour and makes it perfect for winter mornings. Wanna know how to make it at home? Follow the steps below! 

Ingredients 

• 4 potatoes  
• ½ cup tomatoes (chopped) 
• ½ cup onion (chopped) 
• ½ tbsp ground timur or Szechuan pepper 
• 6 garlic cloves 
• 2 dried chilies 
• 1 tsp turmeric powder 
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil 
• 2 cups of water 
• Handful of scallions (chopped) 
• Coriander and green chilies for garnishing 

Method 

• Start by boiling potatoes. When done, peel and mash them properly. 
• Take a mortar and pestle and pound the potatoes until they turn stretchy. It would take 2 to 3 minutes. 
• Then, dip your fingers in a bowl and make small tomato balls. Keep them aside. 
• Heat a deep pot and add oil to it. Add onions and cook them for at least 3 minutes. 
• Add tomatoes, chopped garlic cloves, and red chilies. Add timur or Szechuan pepper.  
• Cook everything together until the mixture reduces to half. 
• Now add water and scallions. Mix well. Let everything cook for 2 to 3 minutes. 
• Add in the potato balls and let it cook for 4 more minutes.  
• Transfer it to a bowl. Garnish with cilantro and chilies. 
• Serve and enjoy!