Nepal
is undoubtedly a beautiful country: rich in culture, nature and hospitable
people. If you are planning to visit Nepal, you shouldn’t miss trying the
amazing dishes too. Nepali cuisine might not be as famous as other cuisines of
South Asia but once you try, you’ll crave for them forever. Most of the people
think “Dal Bhat” or rice and lentils is the only legible Nepali cuisine, which
is absolutely not true. Dal Bhat, of course, is the staple food of Nepal, but
there are plenty of other dishes which are unknown to the world. Among Nepali
cuisines, Newari dishes are believed to be one significant set of cuisine with
typical Nepali features and rich taste. They belong to Newari Community who are
the indigenous people living in Kathmandu Valley for more than 1000 years. They
used to be limited among a small community of Newars. However, nowadays Newari
food is equally loved and appreciated by other ethnic groups as well. Their
food has a local flavor and unique taste that is alluring and worth trying. Baji
(Beaten Rice), Geda gudi (varieties of lentils), spinach, Alu Tama (bamboo
shoots and potatoes), pickles made of potatoes; radish and tomatoes, Choyla,
Kachela are few of the significant dish in Newari cuisine. You can find Newari food in almost all the
hotels, restaurants and cafes of the Kathmandu Valley. Another authentic
cuisine that one must try is Thakali cuisine. They belong to the Thakali
Community, who originated from Thak Khola in the Mustang region of Nepal. The
main dish in Thakali cuisine consists of corn flour pudding (‘Dhindo’) served
along with varieties of vegetables and mutton. There are other side dishes too
which add more delicacy and value to this cuisine. Apart from these, there are
many cuisines from different ethnic groups which can be explored. Some commonly
consumed foods in Nepal are Dal Bhat, Roti and Chapati, Chicken, Mutton and
Fish curry, Mo:Mo, Noodles, Chowmin, Sel, Khapse, Dahi (JuJu Dhau, special
yogurt of Bhaktapur), Pickles, Sweets and many more. You must plan to try them
if you are travelling to Nepal.
It
is also necessary that you know about foods which has reportedly caused food
poisoning to tourists leading to constant vomiting and diarrhea. Foods which
are sold openly in the streets, especially in Kathmandu, should be strictly
avoided. Kathmandu’s air pollution is dangerous and so, foods sold in streets
are highly contaminated with various disease-causing microbes. You should be
careful that you don’t drink water directly from the tap. If you are drinking
water from local shops or refilling empty bottles, then make sure you purify it
with purifying pills before consuming. Another important thing is, if you’ve
never eaten spicy foods before, then it is wise to skip heavily spiced foods
and go for much lighter food in terms of spiciness. Many tourists initially
tend to enjoy the spicy flavor but later, due to digestion problems and change
in ingredients, easily get food poisoning. You should remember to carry hand
sanitizers and tissue papers with you before you step out of the hotel. And,
make sure that the restaurant or hotel you are eating at is secured with basic
level of hygiene.
