How to Make Momos ( Nepal Recipe )

For the Dough:
3 cups Maida
1 tablespoon oil
water as needed for kneading the dough
Pinch of salt

Filling:
500 grams, lean minced mutton or chicken
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup spring onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup coriander leaves, chopped
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp fresh ginger paste,
1/2 tsp Szechwan pepper
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
3 fresh red chilies, minced
1 cup homemade paneer scrambled with hands (optional)
2 tbsp clarified butter
Salt to taste

Method for the Dumplings:
Dough:
In a large bowl combine flour, oil, salt and water.
Mix well, knead until the dough is soft and pliable. Cover and let stand for at least 30 min. Knead well again before making wrappers.

Filling:
In a large bowl combine all filling ingredients. Mix well, adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour so that all the flavours combine together.

Assembly:
Prepare small lime sized dough balls. Take a ball, roll between your palms to spherical shape. Dust working board with dry flour.
Divide the dough into equal portions. Shape each into a ball and use a rolling pin to roll out each flattened ball into a wrapper.
It is essential that the middle portion of the wrapper be slightly thicker than the edges to ensure that the momos do not break while getting filled and steamed.
Hold the edges of the semi-flattened dough with one hand and with the other hand begin rolling the edges of the dough out, swirling a bit at a time. Continue until the wrapper attains 3-in diameter circular shape. Repeat with the remaining semi-flattened dough circles. Cover with bowl to prevent from drying.

For packing, hold wrapper on one palm, put one tablespoon of filling mixture and with the other hand bring all edges together to the center, making the pleats. Pinch and twist the pleats to ensure the absolute closure of the stuffed dumpling.
This holds the key to good tasting, juicy dumplings. Heat up a steamer, oil the steamer rack well. This is critical because it will prevent dumplings from sticking.
Arrange Momos in the steamer and cover the lid. Steam until the dumplings are cooked through, about 10-15 min. Arrange the cooked Momos on a serving plate, garnished with spicy tomato achar.