9 Most Popular Nepali Meat Dishes
Are you planning on going for a trip to the beautiful country of Nepal? Check out some of their popular meat dishes from the Himalayan regions.
Famous Nepali Meat Dishes
Warm, hearty and flavorful – this is how you describe Nepali dishes. Alongside their rice cakes and vegetarian Nepal cuisine are their meat dishes that offer a lot of varieties. It is time to explore some of them.
Gorkhali Lamb
Lamb is the most popular meat in Nepal. This is the reason why Lamb has been part of different dishes in the country. Gorkhali lamb or Nepali lamb curry is a Nepal cuisine that is hearty and luscious, aside from their famous vegetable curries.
This staple food is prevalent in Nepal and exists in almost every region, may it be in the eastern Nepal. As one of the popular foods, Gorkhali uses a slow-cooking method to process this recipe. Additions such as potatoes, chopped onions, and several signature hot spices are also used.
The process of cooking also includes taking out the meat from the pot and grilling it with some spicy chili. Nepalis would enjoy this spicy dish with rice or roti bread for winter. If you are not into meat, then check Nepal’s vegetable curry.
Sekuwa
Sekuwa is Nepal’s favorite grilled skewers. This Nepalese specialty dish is made with grilled and skewered lamb, chicken, pork, or goat meat. The process of making this Nepali-style meat skewer is combining the meat with fresh herbs and many spices before grilling.
Sekuwa is also a popular item in street foods, often eaten with some side dishes such as Nepali Achar (Pickled Tomatoes) and Baji (beaten rice). If you are visiting the country, go to Dharan and Tarahara as these towns are the “Sekuwa’s capitals “of this country.
Sadheko Sukuti / Sadeko Sukuti
Have you ever tried some dried meat pickles? Meat lovers would love this popular dish of Nepal. Nepali people would use different condiments to create this dish, such as raw onions, garlic, and chilis.
Its smoky, spicy and meaty flavors is surely a treat for those who love eating meat. But this dish is not merely served alone, as there are different side dishes that will go well with it. It can also be used as a protein part for a fresh salad.
If you want a healthier option, try the sukuti with freshly chopped root veggies like carrot, radish, and some other things (pickles, beaten rice, cucumber). This Himalayan cuisine has been part of every day’s food for Limbu and Gurung people.
Other neighboring countries like Tibet have their own version that uses water buffalo meat. Up to these days, when fast-food or fresh meat has been sold in many shops during winter, people of Nepal would love to dig in with this popular meat dish.
Choila / Chhwela / Chhoyela
If you are looking for a perfect dish to eat during Saturday dinner, try out this traditional Newari spiced grilled or barbecued buffalo meat. Aside from buffalo, chhwela, Choila, or Chhoyela can also use all types of proteins like lamb, chicken, mutton, duck, and even mushroom.
A variety of spices such as red/green chilis, fenugreek seeds, and some turmeric are used in this dish to create that bold and spicy taste. This Nepalese dish is perfectly paired with a side dish or with rice flakes or puffed rice.
Khasi Ko Masu
Curry dishes are popular in Nepal. This flavorful Nepalese curry made with goat meat is combined with flavorings such as garam masala, chili, turmeric, cloves, and cinnamon. It would need that much spices to enhance the flavors of the dish as the goat meat itself has its own rich flavor.
Khasi ko masu is popular during the largest Nepalese festival called Dashain. Just like other curries, it is best paired with rice and roti bread.
Kachilā
Kachilā is a dish popular in the Nepalese Newari community. It is commonly made with raw meat of water buffalo, chicken, or lamb. The process of making this dish includes mincing and combining the minced meat with garlic, coriander, chili, salt, and fenugreek seeds that are fried in oil with turmeric.
While the meat and spices are poured with fenugreek and turmeric, the final concoction is garnished with coriander and spring garlic.
Bhutuwa
This original Nepali cuisine is a traditional stir-fried dish. Bhutuwa is usually made by combining chicken meat, lemon juice, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, mustard oil, fenugreek, cloves, scallions, garlic, ginger, peas, chili peppers, salt, and black pepper. Pork, shrimp, or lamb are also used as common alternatives.
Lemon juice, mustard oil, turmeric, cumin, and seasonings are used as a marinade for the chicken pieces. Then cloves and fenugreek are sautéed in mustard oil. The process also includes browning the chicken pieces in a pan with garlic, ginger, and chili peppers.
Once the cooking process is almost done, peas, scallions, and cinnamon are added. Bhutuwa is then served with rice, roti, or stir-fried vegetables.
Chunla
This traditional meat dish originating from the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal uses a meat that is finely chopped with a meat grinder or a knife. Either water buffalo’s meat or other types of meat, spices are kneaded into the meat before it is deep fried in oil and simmered in water.
After cooking the meat, a combination of fenugreek seeds and oil are used as toppings. Chunla can be shaped into meatballs or patties as it can be used in different occasions and ceremonies. This meat dish can also be incorporated as a filling for momos or a topping for rice flour pancakes known as chatanmari.
Bandel Karang
Traditionally made with a combination of pork ribs, soy sauce, flour, eggs, garlic, ginger, chili peppers, and five-spice powder, bandel karang is a savory meat dish that is easy to prepare. First, cook the ribs in boiling water and smear it with a combination of all other ingredients except the soy sauce until well coated.
The spicy pork ribs are then slowly mixed with the soy sauce and fried until most of the liquid has evaporated. This will create a glazed effect on the pork ribs. Served hot with a side dish or with rice.
Other Popular Dishes in Nepal
Aside from their famous meat dishes, Nepalese cuisine has more to offer. They have their own version of vegetable curry and lentil soup, usually served hot together with a side dish or sel roti (Nepali Fried Bread).
Their famous mixed bean stew called Kwati Dal is also a must-try. Unlike those famous Dal stews that only use lentils, Kwati dal uses a variety of beans such as chickpeas, soya beans, kidney beans, mung beans, lentils, and white peas.
If you are looking for some sweet treats after the main course, they also have a lot to offer. Sel roti is one of them. It is made from rice flour with a sweet, crispy crust and soft puffy dough. Sel roti can be found on street vendors as a famous roadside snack.
They also have a Nepali Pizza called Chatamari. It is topped with garlic, boiled eggs, minced meat, and spices. They may not be your typical pizza toppings, but it does look a bit like pizza and a widely-loved snack in Nepal.
Now, if you are looking for some treats and love to eat dumplings, try Momo. It is quite similar to Chinese dumplings with fillings generally containing vegetables (sometimes leafy vegetables), tofu, and loaded with meat. Variations to this dish have been made by adding cheese or mashed potatoes into the mix to create more flavors.
Another popular snack in Nepal is Samosa, a deep-fry triangular pastry. This is a spicy delicacy made of mashed potatoes. Condiments such as hot spices and herbs are also added before deep frying.
Yomari is also a popular dumpling made with rice flour. This dish has the glutinous rice shell (teardrop, triangular or fish-shaped) filled with coconut, sesame seeds, sweet molasses, or sometimes lentils and meat.
You can also try out their Juju Dhau, which is considered as the king of yogurt. Its creamy texture and incredible taste truly holds its name. This yogurt is made from sweetened buffalo milk, left until fermented in a clay bowl.
Nepalis surely love to deep fry their dessert, just like the Lal Mohan which is a fried rice ball in sugar syrup. The idea behind this dessert is simple, simply soak the fried rice balls in a small bowl of syrup when serving.
Nepal is truly a beautiful place to explore. Aside from its scenic views, mountains and valleys, their food is something you should try upon visiting this country.
