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Gundrook- Dheedo is the national food of Nepal which can be found all over the country. It is a sugar-free dish made of wheat, maize, and dried green vegetables. Gundrook- Dheedo is also a must-have food for tourists visiting Nepal.
What is a Gundrook- Dheedo?
Gundrook is the dried and fermented green vegetable leaves. It is often prepared as a soup by adding beans and potatoes with a slightly sour and tangy taste. This plant is an essential source of minerals when the diet consists of mostly starchy tubers and maize, which tend to be low in minerals during the offseason.
Gundrook is widely grown in Nepal with an annual production of 2000 tons. Most of the production is carried out at household levels, which explains the everyday use of gundrook in most Nepal cooking. It can be served as a side dish with a main meal or eaten as an appetiser.
Dheedo is one of the sugar-free dishes made up of wheat or maize. It is often eaten with Gundrook soup. Sometimes, barley is used as the main ingredient to improve the look and taste of the Dheedo. It is popular among the villagers in Nepal and claimed to be very healthy, especially for diabetic people.
History of Gundrook- Dheedo
A traditional Nepalese diet has a limited choice, as it much depends on the availability of ingredients in Nepal. Therefore, this diet is greatly influenced by its neighbours, Tibet and India.
India impacted the diet of Nepal by introducing Hinduism, altering the consumption of beef. This spreads the vegetarian diet trend into Nepal, together with some Indian dishes such as naan and curries. The Tibets also play a role in the diet of Nepal introducing some elements of Chinese cuisine such as momo and pasta.
Using the limited ingredients and choices, Gundrook- Dheedo strived to become the national food of Nepal with its easy accessibility of ingredients. It also becomes a cuisine that represents the food culture of Nepal. While Dal Bhat tarkari stands as the staple food of Nepal, meat curries and monos are the popular favourites among the tourists.
Dining Etiquette in Nepal
As most Nepalese are Hindus and Buddhists, many of them are vegetarians.
Therefore, one should be cautious when ordering food in Nepal when having meals together with their local hosts. A washbasin will be passed around the table before eating, which is for one to wash their hands.
One should try all food recommended by the host to show courtesy, although this means a huge variety of food to be eaten. You may start by eating a limited quantity of food, in the beginning, to avoid being too full at the end of the meal.
When eating, eat only with your right hand. A tip is to scoop the gravy from the bowls using naan or rice.
After one finishes eating, you may leave some food on your plate to let them know you had enough food if you are dining in a restaurant. The inviter of that meal is expected to pay for the whole table.
Where to find Gundrook- Dheedo in Malaysia
Gundrook- Dheedo can be found in most Nepalian restaurants in Malaysia. The types of Gundrook- Dheedo vary between restaurants according to their preferences.
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