There’s nothing quite so wonderful as preparing food for friends, especially when there are special requirements. For our Nepali Global Table I was tasked to prepare an entirely vegetarian meal so I could share it with my vegetarian friend, her daughter, and husband.  I loved it! This “constraint” (which I use very loosely as I eat vegetarian much of the time) meant that I got to look through Nepali recipes with a vegetarian filter. Ironically, this opened my eyes to many dishes I might not otherwise have noticed if I’d felt the pressure of cooking some sort of meat dish. The timing couldn’t have been better – many people in Nepal live a vegetarian lifestyle.

This “constraint” also meant that I learned something new that i might not have come across otherwise: being vegetarian in Nepal means no meat or egg (although milk and cheese are fine). Who knew?

Home amid the rice. Photo by Julesair. Winnowing Rice in Nepal. Photo by KenWalker.

What sounds good to you?

Vegetarian Momos [Recipe]
These small dumplings not only have an adorable name, but they taste fantastic. Filled with cabbage, carrot, onion, turmeric, and ginger, each bite is a lovely window into Nepali food and, as you make each crease, you’ll slow down to a simpler time.

Vegan Spiced Yellow Split Peas | Dhal Bhat [Recipe]
A daily staple in Nepal, Dhal are any kind of pulses like split peas or lentils and bhat is rice. While relatively straightforward to explain (and make), this is in fact a vegan dish of subtle complexity and great health benefits. Inside you’ll find golden turmeric, ginger, tomatoes, and more.

Crystal Crunch Fudge | Besan Burfi [Recipe]
Pistachio and cardamom perfume this ghee and chickpea flour based sweet. Known for it’s characteristic crunchy texture and sweet, sweet flavor, Besan Burfi is a fantastic teatime accompaniment.