What Is Choila? A Guide to Nepal’s Traditional Newari Dish
When people think of Nepali food, dishes like momo, dal bhat, and curry often come to mind. But Nepali food has much more to offer, with many traditional dishes that people outside Nepal may never get to try.
One of them is choila, a smoky and spicy meat dish mixed with mustard oil, chilli, ginger, garlic, and Himalayan spices. It is full of bold flavour and offers a different taste of traditional Nepali food, yet authentic choila can be hard to find outside Nepal.
In this guide, we will look at what choila is, where it comes from, how it is made, and where you can try authentic chicken choila near Altrincham and Hale.
What Is Choila?
Choila is a traditional Nepali dish made with grilled or cooked meat mixed with mustard oil, spices, ginger, garlic, and chilli. It comes from the Newar community of Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley and is known for its smoky and spicy taste.
The meat is cooked first and then mixed with the spices and other ingredients. This gives choila its strong and unique flavour.
Traditionally, choila is made with buffalo meat in Nepal. Today, chicken choila is also a popular version, often served alongside other grilled favourites like tandoori chicken. Unlike a curry, choila is not served in a thick sauce. It is usually dry, with the meat coated in a spicy mix of oil and spices.
Where Did Choila Originate: The Newari Tradition Behind Nepal’s Famous Dish
Choila is a Newari dish from the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. It is a part of Newari food culture for generations and is enjoyed often during family gathering, festivals and special celebrations.
In Nepal, choila is more than just a dish you order at a restaurant. It is also prepared at home and shared with family and friends, especially during special occasions and traditional gatherings. You will often find it as part of a traditional Newari khaja set, served alongside pickles and other Newari dishes enjoyed together as a meal, in the same spirit as a full Nepali thali.
While the type of meat used can vary between homes and restaurants, the Newari style of preparation remains at the heart of what makes choila such an important part of Nepal’s food culture.
How Choila Is Actually Made
Choila is made with meat, mustard oil, and a mix of spices. For chicken choila, the chicken is first grilled or cooked until it is fully done and has a light smoky flavour. It is then cut into small pieces and mixed with mustard oil, ginger, garlic, chilli, and other spices.
Some traditional recipes also use timur, a Himalayan spice known for its slightly tingling taste. The exact ingredients can vary from one home or restaurant to another, but mustard oil and spices are important parts of the dish and give choila its well-known strong flavour. The ginger, garlic, and chilli also add freshness and heat, while the smoky flavour of the cooked meat brings everything together.
Mustard oil is one of the key ingredients in choila. It has a strong and unique taste that helps give the dish its bold flavour. When mixed with the spices and other ingredients, it coats the meat and adds to the dish’s rich taste, giving it the drier texture that sets it apart from a typical curry.
How Choila Is Served and Eaten in Nepal
In Nepal, choila is often enjoyed as part of a larger meal rather than on its own. It is commonly served with chiura, also known as beaten or flattened rice, along with pickles and other traditional Newari cuisine. Choila is also a popular part of a Newari khaja set, where several dishes are served together.
Unlike many grilled meat dishes, choila is often eaten at room temperature rather than straight from the grill. This gives the meat time to mix well with the mustard oil, spices, and other ingredients, allowing the flavours to develop before it is served.
There is no strict rule for eating choila. In Nepal many persons enjoy it with their hands but a spoon or fork is also very normal. If you want to balance the meal out, a warm cup of masala chai or a cool mango lassi complements the smoky heat well. It is usually shared with family and friends during meals, gatherings and special occasions, and thus it is a dish closely associated with Newari food culture.
Where to Try Choila in Altrincham and Hale
Although Nepali food is becoming more popular in the UK, traditional dishes like choila can still be difficult to find on many restaurant menus. While some restaurants serve familiar Nepali dishes, not all offer the chance to try lesser-known traditional foods from Nepal’s different communities.
If you are looking to try chicken choila near Altrincham or Hale, Himalayan Kingdom, located at 4 Crown Passages in Hale, serves this traditional Nepali dish as part of its menu, listed as a starter at £9.45. Their chicken choila is prepared with grilled chicken, mustard oil, ginger, garlic, chilli, and a blend of spices inspired by traditional Newari flavours.
It can be served as a starter, shared at the table or ordered with other Nepali dishes for a more complete meal. Your chicken choila is also available for collection and delivery so you can enjoy it at home.
Whether you are trying choila for the first time or looking to enjoy a taste of traditional Nepali food, Himalayan Kingdom offers a chance to explore a dish beyond the more familiar choices found on many menus. If you are still finding your feet with the menu, our guide on what to order at a Nepalese restaurant is a good place to start.
Why Choila Is a Dish Worth Trying
Choila proves that Nepali food is so much more than the food that most people have already met. It has a strong connection with Newari food culture and a smoky taste with spices. It is something different for anyone who wants to explore traditional Nepali cooking.
If you are ready to try it, order chicken choila for
Or visit Himalayan Kingdom at 4 Crown Passages in Hale to enjoy this popular Newari dish for yourself.
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FAQs
What is choila?
Choila is a traditional Nepali dish made with grilled or cooked meat mixed with mustard oil, ginger, garlic, chilli, and spices. It comes from the Newar community of Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley.
Is choila spicy?
Choila usually has some heat from chilli and spices. However, its flavour is not only about heat. Mustard oil, ginger, garlic, and spices give the dish its strong and smoky taste.
What meat is used in choila?
Traditionally, choila is mainly made with buffalo meat. Today, chicken choila is also a popular version and uses the same style of spices and preparation.
Where can I find authentic choila near Manchester?
If you are near Altrincham or Hale, Himalayan Kingdom at 4 Crown Passages in Hale serves chicken choila inspired by traditional Newari flavours.
What’s the difference between buffalo and chicken choila?
The main difference is the type of meat used. Buffalo choila is the traditional version, while chicken choila uses chicken. Both can be prepared with mustard oil, chilli, ginger, garlic, and spices.
