Easy momos recipes to follow this monsoon

Mira Rajput Kapoor. Pic Courtesy/Instagram

Kothmir, not dhania, kanda, not pyaaz, batata, not aloo, and where are the momos? These were among the many cultural shocks that greeted Mira Rajput Kapoor when she shifted from Delhi to Mumbai after marrying actor Shahid Kapoor. In a recent video on her YouTube channel, Mira claimed that, "there are no momos" in Mumbai - a rant we've often heard from our Delhi friends in the city. As someone who also faced a momo crisis after shifting to Mumbai, this writer urges Mira and her fellow momo-lovers to dig a little deeper. From Andheri's Suraj Lama's tandoori momos to home chef Josie Paris Renthlei's pork momos, and Ling's Pavilion's wontons and dumplings in Colaba to North-Eastern joint Thotrin Cafe's thinly wrapped chicken momos, Mumbai offers plenty of options. But if you're still not satisfied, you can learn how to prepare yourself a plateful at home.

Kothe momos

Kothe momos

Ingredients
For the dough:
>> 1 cup all-purpose flour
>> 1/2 tsp salt
>> Water to knead the dough

For the filling:
>> 1 tsp light soya sauce
>> 1/4 tsp vinegar
>> 1/2 tsp white pepper powder
>> Salt to taste
>> 1/2 cup finely chopped mixed vegetables (cabbage, carrot and capsicum)
>> 4 tsp finely chopped shallots
>> 1 tsp grated ginger
>> 4 finely chopped garlic bulbs
>> 2 tsp finely chopped coriander

Method
For the dough, mix salt with flour and enough water to form a dough. Add oil to glaze it and knead again. Now, cover it with a moist cloth and set aside for two hours. Now, mix all the ingredients for the filling and season it with salt and some white pepper powder. Take the dough and divide it into four equal balls; take each ball and roll them out as thinly as possible. Using a cookie-cutter or lid, cut out a circular shape. Spoon one teaspoon of the filling into the circle and fold it on one side to get a half-moon shape. Seal the dough well. Steam the dumplings for 10 minutes. Test by inserting a knife on to the surface of the momo; if it comes out clean, then the momo is cooked. Before serving, pan-fry them or toss them in a pan till the bottom of the momos are slightly browned.

Ajay Thakur, corporate chef, Hitchki Resto Bar

Spring onion sauce momos

Spring onion sauce momos

Ingredients

For the sauce:
>> 20 gm finely chopped spring onion
>> 2 gm finely chopped garlic
>> 1 gm finely chopped ginger
>> Salt to taste

For the momo:
>> 160 gm chicken
>> 50 gm maida
>> 3 gm onions
>> 2 gm coriander
>> 1 gm garlic
>> 5 gm spring onion
>> 1 ginger
>> 3 gm oil
>> Salt to taste

Method
For the sauce: Toss in all the ingredients in a bowl, add heated oil and mix it thoroughly. Season with salt as per taste.
For the momo: In a plate, add finely minced chicken, garlic, onion, coriander, ginger and spring onions, and mix well. Add a little oil to this stuffing mix. Create a dough of the maida with water, a pinch of salt and oil. Make small balls of the dough and roll out each ball into little discs, as thinly as possible. Dab water on your fingers, and pick up a little stuffing and place it on the disc. Rub a little water on the edges of the disc, fold it to form a crescent, and seal the edges well. In a momo steamer, Bring water to a boil, and then place the momos inside after adding a little oil to the base. Steam the momos for 10 minutes. Once done, take them out and serve them with the sauce.

Chef Ganesh Pariyar, Jade Pan Asian Kitchen