Nepalese chicken momos

“A momo is a Chinese-inspired dumpling that has made its way to India from Nepal. I have been obsessed by momo ever since I watched a Nepalese lady knock up a healthy, delicious dinner for herself in 15 minutes. I learned how to make them years later and have never looked back. You don’t have to have years of dumpling making experience to make them so give them a try; I guarantee you will love the results. These are delicious, healthy and although they might seem laborious, momo are fun to make and you can cheat by using store-bought wonton wrappers. You can also serve them with a little chilli-flecked soya sauce instead of the more traditional dipping sauce below.” Anjum Anand, Anjum's Australian Spice Stories

Credit: Anjum’s Australian Spice Stories

• makes

  20

• prep

  50 minutes

• cook

  20 minutes

• difficulty

  Mid

Ingredients

• 100 g (⅔ cup) plain flour, plus extra for rolling

Filling

• 1 tbsp butter or vegetable oil
• 200 g chicken mince (or 1 large breast or 2 thigh fillets, finely chopped)
• ½ medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 large garlic cloves, finely grated
• 12 g piece peeled ginger, finely grated
• 60 g carrot, finely grated and excess liquid squeezed out
• ⅓ cup finely chopped coriander stalks and leaves
• ¾ tsp garam masala
• ¾ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• salt, to taste

Tomato, chilli and ginger dipping sauce

• 1 large red chilli
• 2 large tomatoes
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 10-12 g piece peeled ginger, or to taste, finely chopped
• ⅓ tsp red wine vinegar (or other)
• pinch of sugar

Instructions

To make the dough, combine the flour and 100- 120 ml cold water in a bowl until the mixture comes together. Knead until smooth and soft, then cover with a damp tea towel and allow to rest while you make the filling.

Place all the filling ingredients in a large bowl and combine well. To check the seasoning, fry off a little bit of the filling in a frying pan, taste and adjust as necessary.

Place a large steamer on to boil and line the steamer tray with a disc of lightly greased baking paper.

Roll the dough into a log on your work surface, then cut into 20- 22 even pieces. Working with one piece of dough at a time and keeping the rest covered with a tea towel to prevent drying out, shape into a ball, then roll out on a lightly floured surface into a very thin circle about 6 -7 cm in diameter.  Place a generous teaspoon of the filling in the centre and enclose the filling. I take the momo in my right hand and use my thumb and forefinger to enclose the filling by gathering the edges of the dough and pleating as I stick them together. Make sure the filling stays away from the edges. Place directly into the steamer basket, seam-side up. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Once they are all done, place the momo in the steamer, cover and steam for 12-14 minutes or until the dough is no longer sticky.

To make the dipping sauce, heat a chargrill pan over high heat and cook the tomatoes and chillies, turning occasionally until the skin has blackened. When cool enough to handle, peel and chop the tomatoes, then seed and chop the chillies. Heat the oil in a small frying pan over low heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant and beginning to colour. Add the ginger, sugar, tomato, chilli and vinegar. Season to taste and combine well, then serve warm or at room temperature with the hot momo.

Anjum's Australian Spice Stories starts Monday 4 April 2016 on Food Network Australia. Visit the program page for recipes and more.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.