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    Home » Street Food » Vegetarian Momos

    Veg Momos Recipe | Video

    Published: Nov 10, 2021 by Pavani · 24 Comments

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    Vegetarian momos are Indian style dumplings that are absolutely delicious. In this version, I use a savory vegetable-tofu filling.

    You can either steam or fry these veg momos. Instructions for both are in the recipe card. I have also included air fryer and Instant Pot methods. Serve with schezwan chili sauce and enjoy!!

    White bowl with steamed Vegetarian Momos and a bowl of chili sauce

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    Table of contents

    • About the Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to make Momo Wrappers
    • Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • You might also like
    • Recipe Card

    About the Recipe

    Sikkim is a state in northeastern India located in the Himalayan mountains. It is the least populous state in India and is the only state with an ethnic Nepali majority. Because of the close proximity to Nepal and Tibet, Sikkim cuisine is highly influenced by both of those cuisines.

    Momos are a type of dumplings that are native to Nepal and some parts of Tibet. They are widely made in Sikkim and other northeastern states as well. They have also become a very popular street food in other parts of India.

    Traditionally, momos are made with ground meat filling. In Sikkim, meat and cheese fillings are more famous. But this vegetarian version is equally popular and delicious.

    White bowl with veg momos

    I use a combination of vegetables along with some tofu and spices for the filling in these vegetarian momos. To make the dumplings, I use store-bought dumpling wrapper, but you can also make your own dough. I have included the recipe for the dumpling wrapper below.

    Also these dumplings can either be steamed or air fried. Instructions for making momos using both methods are in the recipe card.

    Black plate with fried momos and chili sauce

    Ingredients

    For the details of the exact quantities of each ingredient and the list of ingredients needed, check the printable recipe card below.

    Here are the ingredients you need to make vegetarian Indian momo dumplings:

    For the filling:

    • Mixed vegetables - use any combination of veggies like cabbage, broccoli, carrot, mushroom etc. I sometimes use store-bought coleslaw or broccoli slaw.
    • Either extra firm or firm tofu, can be subbed with paneer
    • Ginger, garlic, green chilies
    • Soy sauce & Chili sauce
    • Salt & Pepper
    • Wonton Wrappers - I usually use store-bought wrappers because they are easy to find and make the whole process convenient. But if you want to make your own, you need just 4 ingredients - flour, water, oil and salt. Recipe below.
    Ingredients needed - details in recipe card

    To cook the momo dumplings, you can either steam, air fry or deep fry them. Here is the equipment you need:

    • Steam in Instant Pot - you will obviously need an Instant Pot. Along with that you will need a steamer basket.
    • Stove top steaming - you will need a big wok or a pan big enough to fit a bamboo steamer.
    • Air fryer

    How to make Momo Wrappers

    Here's how to make your own dumpling wrapper at home:

    Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons oil in a medium size bowl. Slowly add about ¼ cup of water, mix and knead to form a dough. Knead into a smooth dough. Cover the bowl and set aside aside for at least 15~20 minutes.

    Making dough and Wrappers

    On a lightly oiled work surface, roll out the dough into a ¼" thick circle. Use a 3" cookie cutter to punch out dough circles.

    Follow the recipe as written and cook the vegetable momos until cooked through.

    Instructions

    For the detailed instructions on how to make the recipe with exact timings, check the printable recipe card below.

    Here is how to make vegetarian momos recipe right at home:

    Start by making the filling: In a food processer, combine garlic, ginger, green chili, green onion, mixed vegetables and tofu. Process until finely chopped.

    Food processor with veggies and tofu until chopped

    Heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add the vegetable mixture and cook for 6~8 minutes, or until the veggies no longer smell raw. Add soy sauce, chili sauce, salt and pepper. Mix well and cook for 1 minute. Turn off stove and set aside to cool for 10~15 minutes.

    Cooking the filling with spices

    Work with one wonton wrapper at a time and keep the rest under a damp towel. Place about 2 teaspoons of the vegetable mixture in the center. Dampen the edges with water. Fold the wrapper over to encase the filling, then press the edges together to seal properly.

    Place the filled momo on a plate and cover it up to prevent it from drying out. Repeat with the remaining wrappers until the filling is used.

    Wrapping filling in wrappers

    Once the dumplings are wrapped, then they are ready to be cooked. At this point, you can freeze them for later. Or you can either steam or air fry or even deep fry them.

    How to Steam Momos in Instant Pot

    Select Sauté and pour water into the Instant Pot. The water will start to simmer in 2 to 3 minutes. Place the prepared momos onto a steamer basket and place the basket in the pot.

    Place the lid on, lock it, and place the steam valve in the venting position. Cancel Sauté and select 'Steam'. Instant Pot does not count down in Steam mode, so make sure to set a separate timer for 12 minutes.

    Turn off the Instant Pot when the timer goes off and natural release the steam for 5 minutes; quick release the remainder. Open the pressure cooker and, using oven mitts, carefully remove the steamer basket.

    Steaming dumplings in Instant pot and bamboo steamer

    How to make Steamed Momos in Steamer

    Place the prepared momo on a parchment lined bamboo steamer. Fill a wok with 1~2" of water and place the bamboo steamer in it. Water should come to about 1" to the side of the steamer. Steam for 10~12 minutes.

    Air Fried Momos

    Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Lightly grease the air fryer tray. Place the prepared momos in a single layer. Bake for 8~10 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through, until golden and crispy.

    Air frying dumplings until crispy

    Serve the momos hot with some chili sauce.

    Expert Tips

    • You can use either store-bought wonton wrappers or make your own wrappers at home.
    • Make sure to keep the wrappers and prepared veg momos covered with a damp towel to avoid drying out.
    • Veggies like cabbage, broccoli, carrot, mushroom etc. are great in this recipe. I sometimes use store-bought coleslaw or broccoli slaw to save time.
    • You can substitute tofu with paneer in the filling. Or skip the protein altogether make this a 100% vegetable momos recipe.
    • Make sure to cool the filling slightly before shaping the momos.
    • If steaming Momos in Instant Pot, make sure to set a separate timer since IP does not count down in Steam mode.
    • The filling can be made up to 3 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
    • Vegetarian momos can be prepped 1 day in advance and then steamed or air fried just before serving.
    Hand holding vegetarian momos with chopsticks

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can these veg momos be frozen?

    Yes, absolutely. You can make vegetable dumplings ahead of time and freeze them. To do that, make the dumplings and place them in a single layer on parchment lined baking sheet or plate. Put them in the freezer until completely frozen, then transfer to a ziploc bag and store for up to 3 months.
    To thaw, simply steam the frozen dumplings until warmed through.

    How to make deep fried Momos?

    Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Add the prepared momos in batches and cook until golden brown and crispy on all over.

    You might also like

    Here are few more Indo Chinese dishes that you might like:

    • Schezwan Fried Rice | Indo-Chinese Recipe
    • Hakka Noodles (Indo-Chinese Noodles with Vegetables)
    • Black plate with a stack of veg manchurian.
      Healthy Veg Manchurian Recipe | Video
    • White bowl with roast baby corn topped with scallions.
      Roasted Baby Corn
    White plate with steamed veg momos and a blue bowl with chili sauce

    I love hearing from you!! If you’ve tried this and liked it, then don't forget to let me know. Give a star rating and let me know in the comments below. Also tag me in your creations on Instagram @cooks_hideout. I love sharing photos when people make my recipes. You can use the hashtag #cookshideout too.

    Recipe Card

    Hand holding vegetarian momos with chopsticks

    Vegetable Momos

    Momos are a version of dumplings and are widely made in the northeastern part of India. They are also a very popular street food in many parts of India.
    Author: Pavani
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time: 30 mins
    Cook Time: 15 mins
    Total Time: 45 mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: indo chinese
    Servings: 36 momos

    Ingredients

    • 2 Garlic cloves
    • 1" Ginger piece
    • 1~2 Green chilies
    • 2~3 Green onions, chopped
    • 4 cups Chopped mixed vegetables*
    • 1 cup Firm or Extra firm Tofu, chopped
    • 2 teaspoons Oil
    • 1 teaspoon Soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Chili Sauce
    • To taste Salt and Pepper
    • 36 Wonton wrappers

    Instructions

    Make the filling:

    • In a food processer, combine garlic, ginger, green chili, green onion, mixed vegetables and tofu. Process until finely chopped.
      2 Garlic cloves, 1" Ginger piece, 1~2 Green chilies, 2~3 Green onions, chopped, 4 cups Chopped mixed vegetables*, 1 cup Firm or Extra firm Tofu, chopped
    • Heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add the vegetable mixture and cook for 6~8 minutes, or until the veggies no longer smell raw. Add soy sauce, chili sauce, salt and pepper. Mix well and cook for 1 minute. Turn off stove and set aside to cool for 10~15 minutes.
      2 teaspoons Oil, 1 teaspoon Soy sauce, 1 teaspoon Chili Sauce, To taste Salt and Pepper

    Fill and Make Momos:

    • Work with one wonton wrapper at a time and keep the rest under a damp towel. Place about 2 teaspoons of the vegetable mixture in the center. Dampen the edges with water. Fold the wrapper over to encase the filling, then press the edges together to seal properly.
      Place the filled momo on a plate and cover it up to prevent it from drying out. Repeat with the remaining wrappers until the filling is used.
      Once the dumplings are wrapped, then they are ready to be cooked. At this point, you can freeze them for later. Or you can either steam or air fry or even deep fry them.
      36 Wonton wrappers

    Steam Momos in Instant Pot:

    • Select Sauté and pour water into the Instant Pot. The water will start to simmer in 2 to 3 minutes. Place the prepared momos onto a steamer basket and place the basket in the pot.
      Place the lid on, lock it, and place the steam valve in the venting position. Cancel Sauté and select 'Steam'. Instant Pot does not count down in Steam mode, so make sure to set a separate timer for 12 minutes.
      Turn off the Instant Pot when the timer goes off and natural release the steam for 5 minutes; quick release the remainder. Open the pressure cooker and, using oven mitts, carefully remove the steamer basket.

    Steam in Steamer:

    • Place the prepared momo on a parchment lined bamboo steamer. Fill a wok with 1~2" of water and place the bamboo steamer in it. Water should come to about 1" to the side of the steamer. Steam for 10~12 minutes.

    Air Fried Momos:

    • Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Lightly grease the air fryer tray. Place the prepared momos in a single layer. Bake for 8~10 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through, until golden and crispy.
    • Serve the momos hot with some chili sauce.

    Video

    Notes

    • You can use either store-bought wonton wrappers or make your own wrappers at home.
    • Make sure to keep the wrappers and prepared veg momos covered with a damp towel to avoid drying out.
    • Veggies like cabbage, broccoli, carrot, mushroom etc. are great in this recipe. I sometimes use store-bought coleslaw or broccoli slaw to save time.
    • You can substitute tofu with paneer in the filling. Or skip the protein altogether make this a 100% vegetable momos recipe.
    • Make sure to cool the filling slightly before shaping the momos.
    • If steaming Momos in Instant Pot, make sure to set a separate timer since IP does not count down in Steam mode.
    • The filling can be made up to 3 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
    • Vegetarian momos can be prepped 1 day in advance and then steamed or air fried just before serving.
    • You can make veg momos ahead of time and freeze them. To do that, make the dumplings and place them in a single layer on parchment lined baking sheet or plate. Put them in the freezer until completely frozen, then transfer to a ziploc bag and store for up to 3 months.
    • To thaw, simply steam the frozen dumplings until warmed through.
    • To make fried momos, heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Add the prepared momos in batches and cook until golden brown and crispy on all over.
    • To make your own dumpling wrapper:
      • Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons oil in a medium size bowl. Slowly add about ¼ cup of water, mix and knead to form a dough. Knead into a smooth dough. Cover the bowl and set aside aside for at least 15~20 minutes.
      • On a lightly oiled work surface, roll out the dough into a ¼" thick circle. Use a 3" cookie cutter to punch out dough circles.
      • Follow the recipe as written and cook the veg momos until cooked through.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Momo | Calories: 42kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1036IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cooks_hideout or tag #cookshideout!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beth Sachs

      November 12, 2021 at 12:31 am

      5 stars
      These dumplings are so cute and so flavourful! Great recipe.

      Reply
    2. Dannii

      November 12, 2021 at 1:43 am

      5 stars
      I love dumplings and these look delicious. I will definitely be giving them a try.

      Reply
    3. Mandy Applegate

      November 12, 2021 at 2:03 am

      5 stars
      These dumplings were absolutely delicious - thank you!

      Reply
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