Bara, Nepali pancake

Bara is a traditional Newari snack which is more like a pancake made of black lentil. It is healthy as well as hygienic food and is one of the popular foods in Nepal.



Many small or big restaurants specializing in Newari food offer tasty Baras at reasonable prices. It is golden brown in color and could also be made by mixing other ingredients like meat and egg in it which are known as Masu-Bara and Anda-Bara, respectively. However, Bara is a vegetarian dish unless mixed with egg or meat.

Making Bara is easy and simple. Below is given the recipe for making Bara.

Ingredients:

1 cup of Black Lentils

¼ tsp Asafetida (Hing in Nepali)

½ tsp Cumin Powder (Jeera powder)

1/3 tsp Turmeric Powder

1 tbsp Ginger Paste

Salt to taste

Oil for frying

Procedure:

Soak the black lentils in cold water in a bowl and leave it overnight.

Then wash it and remove all the black skins of the lentil and grind it. Mix as little water as possible and make a paste of it adding the ingredients in it and blend it well.

Then, heat a flat pan (tawa) and put half tbsp of oil. Now, slowly pour the paste into the pan and spread it with the spatula or using all your fingers.

Turn it over and cover it for awhile. It turns golden brown when it is cooked.

For non-vegetarian Bara, add ground meat or beat eggs while mixing the ingredients.

The hot Bara is ready to eat. Serve it with spicy pickles or alone, its taste and hygiene will not be compromised.

Isn’t it simple and easy to prepare? So when are you trying your Bara?