Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat, shared a video of homemade mandua momos, insisting that the millet-based snack beats regular momos in both taste and nutrition.Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat shared a video about mandua momos. (Photos: harishrawatcmuk/instagram) The next time you crave momos, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat might have a distinctly pahadi alternative for you. Rawat showcased homemade mandua (finger millet) momos on his Instagram and declared them superior to conventional momos in taste and nutrition.In the clip, the former chief minister presented the homemade momos with a simple but confident verdict: “Ye mandua ke momos hai, aur ye kisi bhi momos se behtar hai.
Inme poushtikta bhi hai aur swaad bhi hai (These are mandua momos, and they are better than any other momos. They offer both nutrition and taste).”The idea is a familiar street-food favourite reimagined with a local ingredient.
Momo, typically made with a refined flour wrapper, has become a popular snack across India. Rawat's version swaps the conventional wrapper for one made with mandua flour, bringing a traditional grain into a dish more commonly associated with contemporary street-food culture.Mandua, also known as ragi or finger millet, has long been consumed in Uttarakhand.
The grain is valued for its nutritional profile and is used in several traditional preparations, including rotis and porridge. Its use in momos offers another way to incorporate the millet into everyday meals.
Watch the video here:Harish Rawat's video has drawn widespread attention, clocking more than 5.2 million views and prompting a flurry of reactions. The appeal lies in the unexpected pairing: a familiar snack gets a distinctly regional makeover, with an ingredient that has been part of Uttarakhand's kitchens for generations.
The experiment also taps into a growing interest in bringing traditional ingredients back into modern cooking. Rather than presenting mandua only through conventional recipes, the preparation gives it a place in a snack enjoyed by people across age groups.- Ends