Momo Memories!
On April 3, 2014 by Meghalee Das
Momo is another name for steamed flour dumplings, stuffed with meat or vegetables. But momos are not just something we eat; they are essentially a part of our culture and it is impossible for me to not get emotional over these bite-sized pieces of happiness.
My earliest memory of momos is my father bringing these home as an evening snack from Momo Ghar, which was near his office. Anybody who knows Momo Ghar (literally meaning A House for Momos), will get nostalgic thinking about the fresh, steaming dumplings, shared among friends over many a conversation. Strategically situated near offices, hostels and colleges in my hometown Guwahati, it was a favorite place to hangout. When we did not get momos from Momo Ghar, my mom cooked them at home using a pressure cooker. That used to be a big treat for us!
One of my first ‘dates’ with A was at a restaurant eating momos some 10 years ago. In Guwahati, when a boy asks you out and feeds you momos, he loves you. If he lets you have the last one, marry him. And if he takes you on a quest for perfect momos on your honeymoon in Bhutan, you know you married the right man.
When I moved to Delhi, I was delighted to see people selling momos everywhere. A bicycle, portable fuel, a steamer and paper utensils — that was all you needed to experience a few moments of bliss. It was pretty much the first thing I ate there, as it was delivered with a coriander flavoured broth at Satya Niketan where I was staying with my friend. At Ber Sarai Market near IIMC, we would eat in a loop! We had momos till the spicy sauce numbed our tongues, then have gulab jamuns and creamy almond milk. But all that sugary sweetness would make us crave salt and spices, so we would go back to the momo wala and the loop continued until we ran out of money!
Besides Ber Sarai, JNU canteens had those perfect momos where the fat and juices ooze out when you take the first bite. The stalls near Chanakya cinema hall, Lajpat Nagar, Green Park, South Extension, North Campus, Dilli Haat are just some of the many places with good momos. There were times when I was too tired to cook and the momo wala in my lane saved me, just like the one standing near the Business Standard office. Feeling hungry in the middle of editing a story was excruciating. The solution was to run outside, eat a half plate momo, run back inside, get back to work. And sometimes look sadly at the empty spot because you are too late and he has left for the day. Right from a trainee to the news editor, everyone loved them — it was the greatest equalizer.
Here in the US, I have had many dumplings, but they are not really momos. The closest one I had was with my cousin in Chinatown, New York. Momos and memories go together, and I can keep talking about them. They have been there with me when I was happy, busy, alone, tired or celebrating with friends and family. I have already posted the recipe for the spicy chutney here. The recipe for momos will follow soon. Enjoy!
