Dashain ko Subhakamana!

Dashain is not just tika and jamara—it’s the flavors of home. The bubbling pot of khasi ko masu in the kitchen, cousins gathered around plates of chiura and achar, smoky bites of sukuti chatpate with chiya, the joy of grilling sekuwa late at night, and ending with a sweet bowl of kheer. For Nepalis in the USA, it often feels hard to recreate these dishes. Local marts don’t carry timur, authentic masala mixes, or dried sukuti. But with the right spices and a few easy steps, you can bring back that festive taste. Here are seven Dashain recipes every family looks forward to—and how you can make them abroad.

1. Mutton Curry (Khasi Ko Masu)

The centerpiece of every Dashain lunch. Served with bhat or chiura, it’s a dish that makes the whole house smell like a celebration.

How to make it:

1. Heat the mustard oil until it smokes slightly. This removes bitterness and gives the curry its authentic Nepali base.
2. Add bay leaves, cumin seeds, and sliced onions. Fry until deep golden brown.
3. Stir in ginger-garlic paste, then add turmeric, coriander, and red chili powder. Toast the spices for a few seconds so they release their aroma.
4. Add chopped tomatoes, cook until they break down into a rich masala paste.
5. Add mutton pieces, salt, and black pepper. Stir until well coated.
6. Pour in hot water and let it simmer slowly until the meat is tender.
7. Finish with a sprinkle of timur and fresh coriander.
   

Why it matters: This dish ties every family together on tika day—the warmth of the curry brings everyone to the same table.

👉 Get your masala base from our Spices Collection

 

2. Mutton Khaja Set

Dashain afternoons feel incomplete without the famous khaja plate—a playful mix of textures and flavors.

How to prepare it:

1. Lightly fry chiura until slightly crisp.
2. Make a side of spiced mutton curry or pakku.
3. Prepare achar: heat oil, add mustard seeds and fenugreek, then turmeric, chili, and tomato puree. Cook until tangy and bright.
4. Add bhuja, nimki, maybe even a boiled egg to the plate.
5. Assemble: chiura at the base, achar on the side, meat on top, and crunchy bhuja scattered for texture.

Why it matters: A khaja set is not just food—it’s an afternoon memory of cousins teasing each other, elders chatting, and plates being refilled again and again.

👉 Build your khaja set from our Food Collection

 

3. Sukuti Chatpate

The ultimate Dashain snack—smoky, spicy, tangy, crunchy. Perfect for card parties.

How to make it:

1. Roast or lightly fry sukuti (dried meat) until smoky and brittle.
2. Chop into small pieces.
3. Mix with sliced onions, diced tomatoes, green chilies, lemon juice, and salt.
4. Add achar for tanginess and bhuja for crunch.
5. Toss well until flavors coat every bite.
6. Pro tip: The more lemon juice and timur, the better the kick.

Why it matters: This is the dish of “ramailo”—friends laughing, cards being thrown on the floor, and someone always asking, “Chatpate aru cha?”

👉 Authentic sukuti available - Buff Sukuti by Jibro

 

4. Mutton Pakku

Crispy, spicy, iconic. No Dashain is complete without it.

How to make it:

1. Marinate mutton with cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili, ginger, and garlic. Add bay leaves and a drizzle of mustard oil.
2. Heat ghee or oil in a pan, and add the marinated meat.
3. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until oil separates.
4. Fry until the meat edges turn golden brown and crisp, while the inside stays juicy.
5. Garnish with timur and coriander before serving.

Why it matters: Pakku is the dish most remembered after Dashain—the smell of pakku being fried is the smell of home itself.

👉 Prepare it the authentic way with our Pakku Masala

 

5. Sekuwa (Nepali BBQ)

Smoky, juicy, bold—perfect for chilly Dashain nights with cousins and laughter.

How to make it:

1. Make a marinade with cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, black pepper, ginger-garlic paste, mustard oil, lemon juice, and salt.
2. Coat the meat thoroughly and let it rest overnight.
3. Grill over charcoal for the best flavor, or pan-roast until slightly charred.
4. Serve hot with achar and a squeeze of lemon.

Pro tip: Add a sprinkle of roasted cumin on top before serving—it boosts aroma instantly.

👉 Marinade essentials: Spices Collection

 

6. Choila (Newari Favorite)

Spicy, smoky, and fiery—choila is a festival in a bowl.

How to make it:

1. Roast or grill meat until slightly charred, then cube it.
2. Heat oil, add fenugreek seeds until dark, then turmeric—this gives that signature yellow oil.
3. Toss meat with roasted cumin, chili powder, ginger-garlic paste, chopped coriander, mustard oil, sesame oil, lemon juice, and timur.
4. Mix well and serve with chiura.

Why it matters: Choila is the dish of excitement—it wakes up everyone’s taste buds and makes even a quiet Dashain gathering loud again.

👉 Spice mix ready in our Spices Collection.

 

7. Rice Pudding (Kheer)

The sweet blessing of Dashain. Simple, comforting, and symbolic.

How to make it:

1. Wash rice and cook slowly in milk with bay leaves and cardamom.
2. Stir frequently so it doesn’t stick.
3. Add sugar and a spoonful of ghee for richness.
4. Let it simmer until creamy.
5. Garnish with cashews and raisins.

Why it matters: Kheer is more than dessert—it’s the symbol of purity and prosperity. Every family ends tika day with it, sharing sweetness and good wishes.

👉 Ingredients available in our Food Collection

📦 Shortcut Solution: Don’t want to shop item by item? Get spices, snacks, and foods in one go → Dashain Combo Deals.

Snacks for Cards & Ramailo

Keep the laughter going with bowls of wai wai, bhuja, nimki, and biscuits. Late-night langur burja feels incomplete without them.

👉 Explore ready snacks in our Snacks Collection

 

The Real Problem Abroad (And a Simple Solution)

💭 Problem: Nepalis abroad often struggle to find authentic masalas, sukuti, achar, and festive snacks.
✅ Solution: DhakaTopi delivers them to your door with:

• Free delivery across the USA
• 5% off orders above $50
• iPhone 7 Giveaway: Orders above $100 enter automatically

👉 Shop stress-free: Dashain Combo Deals

Spice Glossary (quick link map)

Cumin Seeds (Jeera)

Coriander Powder/Seeds

Turmeric Powder

Red Chili Powder / Flakes

Black Pepper

Bay Leaf (Tej Patta)

Cardamom (Elaichi)

Cinnamon (Dalchini)
 (optional)

Cloves (Laung)
 (optional)

Fenugreek Seeds (Methi)

Mustard Seeds (Rai)

Sesame Seeds (Til)

Mustard Oil

Sesame Oil

Ghee

Timur (Sichuan Pepper)

Chat Masala

Ginger–Garlic Paste

Black Salt (Kala Namak)

Lemon Juice
 (link to lemon product if you stock; else leave as plain text)

Quick CTAs

Spices → Shop Spices

Foods → Shop Food

Snacks → Shop Snacks

Easy all-in-one → Dashain Combo Deals

 

From the warmth of mutton curry to the crunch of sukuti chatpate, from fiery choila to sweet kheer, Dashain food is a memory on a plate. Living abroad doesn’t mean missing these flavors. With the right spices, foods, and combos, you can set a Dashain table in the USA that feels just like home.

 Celebrate with flavor. Celebrate with family. Let DhakaTopi make it easy.