History of MomosImage Credit source: getty image
If we talk about street food, how can momos be forgotten? In today’s time, this is one of the most popular street foods. While veg momos are made with soya chunks and vegetables, paneer momos are also quite popular among the people and for non-veg lovers, chicken momos are also available in the market, but do you know how momos became popular in India and where did they first start making them, i.e. where is momos a traditional dish? If you consider momos as Chinese food then you are also wrong. So let us know the origin of your favorite food and how it has become popular in India.
Although you will find many different flavors of momos in India, it is mostly eaten with spicy garlic chutney, but it was not like this in the beginning. After coming to India, changes gradually took place in it. Let us know the journey of momos from its beginning to its street food.
Momos is the dish of this country
You are a momos lover and if you think that this is a Chinese food then you are wrong. Momos have a connection with Tibet. This is the original dish here. Actually, the weather here is cold, hence eating steamed food started here, because the things prepared in this way remain hot for a longer time. Talking about the name of Momos, in Tibetan language it means steamed dumpling. Now let us know when and how momos came to India.
How did momos reach India?
It is believed that momos reached Nepal from Tibet and then India. In this way, gradually, after the hilly areas, today it has become a very favorite street food for children and adults in the plains also. Historians have different opinions about momos, like some believe that in the 1960s, when a large number of Tibetan people came to India and settled in different parts of the country, momos started becoming popular in different places of our country like Darjeeling, Sikkim, Delhi, Dharamshala, Ladakh. It is also said that the recipe of momos came to India after the visit of a businessman from Kathmandu to Tibet.
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Serving Momos with Chutney
Momos with garlic and red chilli chutney are most popular in India, while you will also find gravy to tandoor momos in street stalls and restaurants. At present, it is believed that serving momos with chutney started in Nepal. In this way, changes took place in Momos, inspired by the local taste of the places where it reached.
Inspired by these dishes of China
Steamed food is also very popular in China, so some historians also believe that momos are inspired by the traditional dishes made in China, Jiaozi and Baozi. These are both veg and non-veg dumpling dishes. In this way, local flavors were added and momos became a popular street food.