Yomari

Yomari sometimes written as Yamari, is eaten in the month of Poush especially in Purnima (Full-moon day). The day is celebrated as

Yomari Punhi. Yomari is regarded as hot food item and it kills cold. It is believed that longer the tail of Yomari shorter the winter of Poush (December/January). Yomari is famous in Newari Community in Nepal. Some believe, the triangular shape of yamori is derived from one half of "Shadkond" and is the symbol of Goddess Saraswati and wisdom.

The name Yamari comes from two Newari words, "ya" meaning "to like" and "mari" meaning "delicacy". Yomari is a delicacy which is very popular. 

To make it simple, Yomari is a rice flour dumpling stuffed with Molasses. It is a sweet Newari desert steamed and served hot. 
'त्यछिं त्य वकछीं त्य लातापाता कुलेचाँ जुछिंत्य । 

योमरी च्वामु उकी दुने हाकु ब्युसा माकु मब्युसा ।।

फाकु ब्युसाल्यासे मब्युस बुढी कुटी ।   "

How to make Yomari Dumplings

 

Utensils

 

Steamer

Big bowl

Soft piece of cloth

Pan

Spatula

 

Ingredients to make 15 yomari

 

Rice flour- 500 grams

Chakku (Molasses)-100 grams

Sesame seed Powder – 50 gram

Coconut powder/ grated coconut-20 grams

Cardamom powder- 5 grams

Vegetable oil- 10 gram

 

Method

 

Heat a cup of water and chaku in pan at a medium heat


When chaku melts, add sesame powder, coconut powder and cardamom powder and stir it gently.


Add about a spoon full of rice flour and stir it gently


When the paste is good (not too thick or too thin) pour it into a bowl


Make the dough for yomari using rice flour and Luke warm water


Make a soft dough (dough should be soft because if the dough is hard the yomari will break)


When the dough is ready cover it with soft piece of cloth and leave it for about half an hour.

 

After half an hour

 

Grease your palm with cooking oil so that the dough will not stick to your hand


Take a small piece of dough and make it first into round then into long yomari shape


Make as thin as you can because more thin your wrap is more tasty yomari becomes


Add two teaspoon of chhaku into the wrap and slowly close the yomori top.


You should keep on roiling the yomari while closing the top.


Heat the water in the steamer.


When water boils, put yomari in steamer and let it steam for about 10 minutes.

 

Yomari is ready to Serve.


Yomari Recipe Newari Food Item