Momos are mostly steamed. The traditional momo steamer is called a mucktoo. We’ve all seen that metal utensil with holes at the base, right? In many places, bamboo steamers are also used. Also, momos are a traditional delicacy in Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim, Assam and North Bengal. Recipes are often passed down via generations.
Ingredients:
FOR MOMOS DOUGH– Green Chilli sauce 1½ cup Flour (maida) a generous pinch Salt 1½ tbsp Oil 100 ml (little less than ½ cup) Warm Water
FOR CHILLI PANEER- 4 tbsp Oil ½tbsp Ginger chopped ½tbsp Garlic chopped ½cup Onion chopped ¼cup Green Capsicum Chopped ¼cup Red Capsicum Chopped ¼cup Yellow Capsicum Chopped 2¼ tbsp Soya sauce 1tsp Kashmiri chilli powder 2tbsp Tomato ketchup 1 tbsp Green Chilli sauce ½tbsp Vinegar to taste Salt 1cup Paneer Cubes Dash of water ½tbsp Corn starch 2 tbsp Water Handful Spring onion chopped
Steps
1 DONE
FOR THE MOMOS DOUGHPlace the flour in a bowl, sprinkle salt, oil and warm water. Make a soft dough and start kneading the dough got attest 5mins. This will make a soft but stronger dough which will not tear easily. Place the dough under a damp cloth and give it rest for 20mins.
2 DONE
FOR CHILLI PANEER STUFFINGHeat a pan and drizzle oil. Stir garlic, ginger and onions for 2mins. The idea is to lightly toss them and not brown them. Add all peppers and stir for another minute. Pour over soya sauce (light), chilli powder, tomato ketchup, green chilli sauce (optional), vinegar and salt. Toss them together and cook for 30 secs. Add grated or chopped paneer and toss them for a minute. Make sure you cook on high heat to remove any visible moisture.
3 DONE
Dissolve cornstarch in 2 tbsp of water and spread it over the mixture. Immediately mix them so that the mixture comes together. Add cornstarch will keep the binding of the mixture together and will retain the juiciness of the stuffing. Also it will not tear up the momo dough while steaming it.
4 DONE
Turn off the heat, add spring onions, toss them in and remove the mixture on to a plate and cool it completely before using it.
5 DONE
FOR ASSEMBLINGRoll out the dough into a long even cylinder and cut them equally into 12 nos. Place them all under a damp cloth. Pick one and dunk it in dry flour and press it flat. Roll it round with thin edges and a thicker centre. Roll it out to about 8cm in dia.
6 DONE
Place the rolled dough on to your fingers and put a generous spoonful of the filling in the centre. Pinch the dough from one end to seal and make a fold. Then go anti clock wise to pinch more dough and fold it over the previous fold. Repeat til the entire filling is encased. Repeat with the remaining dough.
7 DONE
To cook oil the base of the steamer. Put the momos over the steamer and steam with the cover on for 12-15min. Remove and serve them steaming hot.
