Thukpa is a delicious noodle soup mostly served with meat. It is a popular soup of Tibet and can be made spicy as well as mild. This hearty soup is nourishing and tasty and comes in a number of varieties. Thukpa can be made with or without meat. It also contains many vegetables and is considered a healthy food option. This noodle dish is mainly consumed for dinner and contains noodles of various shapes, vegetables and meat in broth. It is also known as gya tuk.
History and Origin of Thukpas
A thukpa recipe belongs to Tibet. It is popular in all the Himalayan countries. Tibetan noodle soup dish can be of different shape like pasta. This is also a common dish in Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh states of India. This nutritious noodle soup is available in all the restaurants of these places.
Method of Preparation and Ingredients Used in Thukpa Recipes
The major ingredients used in thukpa recipe are Tibetian noodles, mixed vegetables, yogurt, garlic paste, chilies, turmeric, cumin powder, bay leaf, cilantro, salt, black pepper, mustard oil and shredded meat. The noodles are boiled in hot water and salt is added to it. The mix vegetables are fried and all the spices are added. Water and noodles are added to it with grated meat. The soup is cooked for long till the meat gets cooked. The soup is then garnished with chopped cilantro.
Tenthuk is a popular variation of thukpa recipe and uses small pasta chunks which are made from pulled noodles.
Serving Thukpa
Thukpa dish contains noodles and vegetables and thus can be served as a complete meal. The foods that pair well with thukpa are meat rolls, steaming hot momos, rice, fries, nuggets and sausages.
Nutritional Value of Thukpa Recipes
Thukpa is a nutritious soup beneficial for mind and body. A thukpa is low in calories and is a rich source of nutrients and dietary fiber. It is a light snack which can be easily digested.
Trivia – Thukpa
Thukpa is one of the main foods prepared during Losar, Tibet’s New Year celebrations. Tibetan New Year is based on the lunar calendar where years repeat after every twelve year.
