Chatamari
Chatamari is a popular Newari dish often referred to as 'Nepali pizza.' It's a thin rice crepe topped with various ingredients, typically minced meat, vegetables, and sometimes an egg and cheese. It's a quick and flavorful street food.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 cup Rice flour
- 0.25 cup All-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups Water(approximate, for batter)
- 0.5 tsp Salt(for batter, plus to taste)
- 100 g Minced chicken or buffalo
- 1 large Egg
- 0.5 small Onion(finely chopped)
- 1 small Green chili(finely chopped (optional))
- 1 small Tomato(finely chopped)
- 2 tbsp Fresh coriander(chopped)
- 0.5 tsp Cumin powder
- 0.5 tsp Coriander powder
- 0.25 tsp Red chili powder(or to taste)
- 0.25 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp Oil(for cooking each chatamari)
- 2 tbsp Shredded cheese(optional, for topping)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a bowl, whisk together rice flour, all-purpose flour, salt, and about 1 cup of water. Gradually add more water as needed to create a thin, pourable batter, similar to crepe batter. Ensure there are no lumps.
- 2
In a separate bowl, combine the minced meat, chopped onion, green chili (if using), chopped tomato, fresh coriander, cumin powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
- 3
Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a non-stick skillet or flat pan over medium heat. Swirl the pan to coat the bottom evenly.
- 4
Pour a ladleful of the rice batter into the hot pan and quickly swirl it around to form a thin, circular crepe.
- 5
Cook for about 1-2 minutes until the edges start to lift slightly. Spread a portion of the meat mixture evenly over the crepe.
- 6
Crack an egg over the topping (optional) and sprinkle with shredded cheese (optional).
- 7
Carefully fold the chatamari in half or serve open-faced. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the egg is set and the crepe is golden brown and slightly crispy.
- 8
Slide the chatamari onto a plate and serve immediately. Repeat with the remaining batter and topping.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the batter is thin enough to create a crispy crepe.
- ✓Use a good non-stick pan to prevent the chatamari from sticking.
- ✓Adjust the amount of chili and spices to your preference.
- ✓Chatamari cooks very quickly, so have all your ingredients prepared before you start.
🔄 Variations
- Vegetarian Chatamari: Top with sautéed vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, or potatoes.
- Egg Chatamari: Top with just an egg and spices.
- Plain Chatamari: Serve the crepe with just a sprinkle of spices.
- Add black-eyed peas or cooked potatoes to the meat topping for extra texture.