Chatamari (Newari Rice Flour Crepes)
Local name: चतामरी
In short: Thin rice flour crepes with crisp edges, topped with spiced minced chicken, tomato and a cracked egg, cooked in a covered pan. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 20 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 330 kcal
Chatamari is a rice flour crepe from the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley, often called Nepali pizza because of the toppings. The batter is simply rice flour and water, spread thin in a hot pan and topped with spiced minced meat, onion, tomato and an egg. It is covered so the egg sets while the base turns crisp at the edges and soft in the middle. It is a favorite at festivals and in Newari restaurants.
Instructions
- Whisk the rice flour, water, salt and oil into a smooth batter as thin as light cream. Rest for 20 minutes.
- Heat the oil for the topping in a pan over medium heat. Cook the chicken, onion and garlic for 6 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink and reaches 74°C (165°F).
- Stir in the cumin, turmeric, chili powder and salt, then the tomato and green chilies for 2 minutes. Take off the heat and stir in the coriander.
- Heat a nonstick skillet about 22 cm (9 in) across over medium heat and brush with a little oil. Stir the batter well, then pour in a quarter and swirl quickly to a thin round.
- Cook for 1 minute until the edges start to lift. Spoon a quarter of the topping over, leaving a small well in the middle, and crack an egg into it.
- Cover the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the egg is set and the base is crisp at the edges. Slide onto a plate.
- Repeat with the remaining batter, stirring it well each time, and serve the chatamari hot.
Tips
- Stir the batter before each crepe, because rice flour settles at the bottom. Swirl the pan fast, before the batter sets.
- For a vegetarian topping, use crumbled firm tofu, mushrooms or cooked lentils with the same spices and skip the egg if you like.
Questions and answers
Is chatamari like pizza?
It is often called Nepali pizza because of the toppings, but the base is a thin, unleavened rice flour crepe cooked in a pan, so it tastes and feels quite different.
Is chatamari gluten-free?
Yes, the crepe itself is made of rice flour and water only. Check that the spices and any sauce you serve with it are gluten-free.
Can I make chatamari ahead of time?
Make the batter a day ahead and the topping up to 2 days ahead. Cook the crepes fresh, because they lose their crisp edges as they sit.
How long does it take to make Chatamari (Newari Rice Flour Crepes)?
About 50 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Chatamari (Newari Rice Flour Crepes)?
About 330 kcal per serving, with 16 g of protein, 33 g of carbohydrates and 15 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 330 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16 g |
| Carbohydrates | 33 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 670 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
