I have been struggling for weeks now about how to write a post about Nepal. As some of you may know, I was there for the Easter break, two weeks before the first earthquake destroyed so much of Nepal only to be followed by more devastation two weeks later.
I cannot believe that what I saw and all of my memories will be completely different to what is the reality of Nepal now, just a few weeks later. As someone who has put far flung travel on the back burner since having children, it feels unsettling to have travelled somewhere, as a family, as far away as Nepal only for it to be ruined by a natural disaster.
Realising just how hard it has been to get aid out to Nepal, I thought I would share with you a couple of aid agencies that have been able to get help directly to those that need it most.
Right4Children – Right4Children (R4C) is a NGO based in Pokhara, Nepal.
“We give children and young people the opportunity of having the life they want to have. We give them the tools to make the change they are looking for. Our staff and partners on the ground are addressing an urgent need for:
-Shelter (Tarps and Tents)
-Food
-Doctors and medicine”.
Freedom Matters – “We are inviting donations towards an emergency relief fund that will help child survivors and their families rebuild their lives. We will deploy these funds at the point of greatest need through the personal supervision of Board members and former Gurkhas who have excellent insight into the situation”.
Demuths cookery school held a fundraiser cooking demonstration followed by a traditional Nepalese buffet supper, with all the proceeds going to the Nepal Disaster Fund.
Many people are living in remote villages, cut off and isolated. They are in need of food and water, such simple yet necessary supplies. Having passed through many of these villages on our trip, I can appreciate just how difficult to reach many of these people are. In a country of such striking natural beauty, many villages are nestled away out of the reach of any passers by unless you have, like we were, been taken there by a guide.
Unfortunately tourism in Nepal will be non-existent for the coming months. This will have a huge impact on revenue for the country which is why getting aid directly to areas that have been affected can only help with the reconstruction, rehabilitation and regeneration of this incredibly beautiful country.
Whilst there, I was lucky enough to enjoy some superb food. Curry for breakfast, lunch and dinner made me a very happy traveller. My two favourite dishes of the trip were Kati rolls and Nepalese Momos. Kati rolls are paratha bread wraps filled with a tasty spicy chicken and vegetable mixture. Momos are Nepalese steamed dumplings filled with minced chicken or vegetables and served with a hot chilli sauce.
I am going to share with you my version of these moreish little dumplings which I served with THIS chilli sauce from one of my most popular posts “Chicken kebab with home-made chilli sauce”. If you are a lover of dumplings, from gyoza to dim sum, you will definitely enjoy these. I wonder if anywhere in London sells these? They would make the perfect street food.
I have more dumpling inspiration for you here:
Spicy gyoza crisps – Fuss Free Flavours
King prawn gyoza – Recipes & Reviews
Home made Chinese dumplings – Tiny Urban Ktchen
King size Kimchi dumplings – Maangchi
Chengdu dumplings in red chilli oil – The Mala Project
In the hope of raising awareness for Nepal through it’s wonderfully spiced food, here are my Nepalese Momos.
Nepalese Momos
A Nepalese dumpling recipe similar to dim sum
Ingredients
- Gyoza/Won Ton wrappers
- 500 g chicken breast minced
- 2 banana shallots finely diced
- 2 spring onions finely chopped
- 2 tomatoes skinned and finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 inch piece of ginger peeled and grated
- 1 small bunch of coriander finely chopped
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 2 red chillies finely diced
- salt & Pepper
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
Instructions
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Add all of the ingredients (apart from the wrappers) into a mixing bowl and using your hands blend the ingredients together very well until completely incorporated.
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Place your wrapper onto a kitchen surface and wet the outside edge with water
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Put a teaspoon of the chicken mix into the centre of the wrapper and then bring the sides together to seal the Momo
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Pinch the edges into a pleated pattern or crimp them (I recommend watching a video on how to do this)
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Continue wrapping the Momos until you have as many as you need. The mixture makes lots of Momos so I did freeze half of the mixture to use at a later date. You can also freeze the wrappers.
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Steam the Momos in a bamboo steamer for between 8 to 10 minutes
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Serve immediately with a spicy dipping sauce.
A great, and important post Laura. Disasters in remote regions are so hard when it comes to getting the relief in, and sadly all too fleeting on our awareness too.
Thank you for the reminder about Nepal.
Exactly right Helen, it seems to have disappeared from the news as so many of these awful disasters do.
A fantastic post Laura.
Thanks Jan 🙂
A great post Laura, I can understand why it has been difficult for you to write this after the disaster. The recipe for momos sounds delicious and it’s a good way of reminding us of the people in Nepal.
So true Jan, I hope Momos become a well over dumpling in the UK. Nepalese food is so good.
It feels flippant in the light of the disaster to say what beautiful photos, but they really are. I know that the Scout Association and Girl Guiding are both trying to get fundraised aid out, but it is hard.
It’s true Penelope, that is a major problem, simply getting the aid and enough of it to the locals. It’s the water situation I worry about the most.
Such a sad post Laura and one that was very hard to write. I am pleased you are raising awareness of Nepal through food. My mum has been there and I would love to go too
I hope to go back one day Jo and would recommend you go too. They need the tourism that’s for sure.
Thanks so much for the link to my Sichuan dumplings in chili oil. Coincidentally, I just two days ago had my first ever momos, at a Nepalese restaurant in Queens, NY. Thank you for what looks like a delicious recipe for them and for reminding us that the people of Nepal still need our help.
Thanks so much Taylor, I loved your dumplings and am pleased you have now tried out moms for yourself. Always good to raise awareness of worthy causes too 🙂
These look and sound amazing. I wonder if I could make a veggie version.
Definitely Emily, vegetable options are always on the menu too.
I love momos and these really sound amazing. I’ve folded dumplings this way before and will try your filling.
What a lovely post also about the beauty and tragedy in Nepal. Let’s hope the country rises up from this devastation. A stunning place.
I am sure it will face the challenges and cope. It is a country that I definitely want to return to. The local people deserve our support.
I think you’ve written beautifully about Nepal, what a sad, sad event for the country. Bitter sweet memories really – you will remember the beauty but also it is hard not to think of the devastation. Very important too to mention aid agencies as all too often it becomes yesterday’s news and they struggle to rebuild and get aid to those who need it the most :-/