Glossary of Nepali Food Terms

Aloo (ah-LOO)
Potato

Buff (buff)
Water buffalo meat

Chatpate (chat-PAH-teh)
A popular street food made with puffed rice

Chilli (CHI-lee)
Refers to momos dipped in a hot and spicy sauce (usually called "C. momo")

Choila (CHOY-lah)
Spiced grilled meat made with buff, mutton, chicken, duck meat and mushroom

Dal (dahl)
Dried lentils

Dhido (DEE-doh)
Meal prepared by gradually adding flour to boiling water while stirring

Hyakula (hahya-KOO-lah)
Boiled goat’s sternum

Jeera (GEE-rah)
Cumin seeds

Jhaneko (jah-NEH-koh)
Deep fried

Jhol (Johl)
Means liquid; jhol momos are immersed in a bowl full of sauce called jhol achar

Kadai (kah-DYE)
A wok-like pan

Khaja (kah-JAH)
A combined dish of baji (beaten rice), achar, egg, soybeans, etc.

Kothe momo (KOH-teh-MOH-moh)
Half fried and half steamed momo made in an elongated shape

Masala (mah-SAH-lah)
Spice blends

Momo (MOH-moh)
Dumplings

Pakoda (pah-KOH-dah)
Fritters

Paneer (pah-NEER)
Cottage cheese

Sadeko (sah-DEH-koh)
Marinated

Sekuwa (SEH-koo-wah)
Meat roasted in a natural wood fire

Sukuti (soo-KOO-tee)
dried meat product made from buffalo, and sometimes from lamb or goat

Tass (Tahs)
Boneless lamb slices marinated in Nepali herbs and spices and slowly cooked

Tawa (TAH-wah)

A thick-bottomed pan

Thakali (Tah-KAH-lee)
Refers to lowland cuisines of the Thakali people living in Thak-Khola region

Thukpa (TOOK-pah)
Himalayan noodle soup, usually served with meat

Timmur (tee-MOOR)
A pungent Nepali pepper

Wai Wai
A brand of instant noodles popular in Nepal