Cookbook:Jhilinga (Nepalese Rice Fritters)

| Nepali Cuisine

Jhilinga is a traditional Nepalese food popular specially during festivals. Jhilinga is super crunchy, and is favoured by people of all age groups.

It is closely associated mostly with people of different caste like the Newars, Gurungs, Magars and many other Nepalese ethnic tribes. Popularity of jhilinga still largely exists in villages and towns of Nepal. The making process of jhilinga is really simple and the ingredients are not complicated as well. However people need some good hands on skill to craft it in good circles as it can be tricky to make circles out of thin soft strips and set them to cook when required.

The history of jhilinga is disputed and the dish is characterised by its frugality, reflecting agricultural hardship during ancient times. So it certainly was invented long time ago and would not surprise if someone said it was invented in one of many deep villages of Nepal.

The consumption of jhilinga is largely during different occasions like weddings and birth ceremonies. It also is associated with different other rituals and has a significant cultural importance. From early days and until now it is used as Shagun (present) when visiting guests' or relatives' houses.

Ingredients

 * Rice flour
 * Water
 * Food coloring (for varieties of color)

Procedure

 * 1) Boil water in a deep pot.
 * 2) Slowly add the required amount rice flour and food color into the boiling water, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. It is same as the process of making dhindo but without the ghee. The mixture should have a good balance and consistency of flour and water.
 * 3) After it is cooked, process the dough through a noodle machine that can make really thin strips.
 * 4) Shape the dough strips into circles. Set out in the sun for a few days to dry and set.
 * 5) Once evenly set, deep fry them in vegetable oil.