Introduction
Moving to the UK for university is exciting — but finding familiar Nepali food can feel like a challenge, especially when you are far from home, on a student budget, and craving Dal Bhat after a long day of lectures.
This guide is for Nepali students in the UK — whether you are in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, or anywhere else. It covers exactly what to buy, what to prioritise on a tight budget, and where to get authentic Nepali groceries delivered to your door.
The Essentials: Start Here
These are the non-negotiables — the ingredients you need to cook basic Nepali meals every day.
Rice
- Long-grain basmati rice (5kg bag is best value)
- Chiura (beaten rice) — for quick snacks and Dashain/Tihar traditions
Dal (Lentils)
- Musuro dal (red lentils) — quickest to cook, no soaking needed
- Moong dal (yellow split mung) — light and easy to digest
- Kalo dal (black lentil) — for weekends when you have more time
- Mixed dal / Masyang Dal — buy a pre-mixed pack if available
Oil
- Mustard oil — essential for authentic Nepali flavour
- Vegetable oil — for everyday frying when mustard oil is too strong
Core Spices
- Turmeric powder
- Cumin seeds (whole)
- Coriander powder
- Red chilli powder
- Garam masala
- Salt
- Timur (Nepali Sichuan pepper) — for authentic achar and dal
Aromatics
- Garlic (fresh or paste)
- Ginger (fresh or paste)
- Onions
- Tomatoes
Weekly Shopping List Template
Here is a simple weekly shopping list for one Nepali student cooking at home:
Vegetables (buy fresh weekly)
- Potatoes — versatile, cheap, essential for aloo tarkari
- Spinach or mustard greens — for saag
- Cauliflower — for gobi tarkari
- Green beans or peas
- Tomatoes and onions (always)
- Fresh coriander — for garnishing everything
- Green chillies
Protein
- Eggs — cheap, fast, endlessly versatile
- Chicken thighs (bone-in) — better flavour and cheaper than breast
- Canned chickpeas — for quick chana curry
- Paneer — for vegetarian days
Pantry Staples (buy monthly)
- Rice (5kg)
- Assorted dals (1–2kg each)
- Mustard oil
- Ghee (small jar — a little goes a long way)
- Cumin seeds, turmeric, coriander powder, chilli powder, garam masala
- Timur
- Soy sauce and sesame oil — for momo dipping sauce
- Dried chillies
Nepali Student Meal Plan: 5 Easy Recipes
1. Dal Bhat (30 minutes)
The classic. Cook musuro dal with turmeric, garlic, and cumin. Serve over steamed basmati. Add a simple potato tarkari and you have a complete meal for under £2.
2. Aloo Tarkari (20 minutes)
Diced potatoes fried with cumin, turmeric, garlic, and chilli. One of the fastest and most satisfying Nepali sides — works with dal, chiura, or even bread.
3. Egg Curry (25 minutes)
Hard-boil eggs, fry in a tomato-onion-spice base. Cheap, protein-rich, and ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights.
4. Chicken Curry (45 minutes)
Marinate chicken thighs in yoghurt, turmeric, chilli, and ginger-garlic paste. Slow cook in a tomato and onion base with garam masala. Make a big batch on Sunday — it gets better over 2–3 days.
5. Chiura Sadeko (10 minutes)
Beaten rice (chiura) mixed with mustard oil, timur, green chilli, onion, coriander, and a boiled egg or fried meat. A classic Nepali snack that takes 10 minutes and tastes like home.
Budget Tips for Nepali Students in the UK
- Buy in bulk online — rice, dal, and spices are significantly cheaper per kg when bought in larger quantities. Order from MasalaMart and split the cost with housemates.
- Cook in batches — make a large pot of dal and tarkari at the weekend and eat it across 3–4 days. Nepali food actually improves with time.
- Freeze your ginger-garlic paste — blend a large batch, freeze in ice cube trays, and use cubes as needed. Saves time and money.
- Use the whole chicken — buy a whole chicken and break it down yourself. Use the carcass to make stock for soup or khana ko soup.
- Chiura is your friend — beaten rice requires no cooking, stores for months, and makes a quick nutritious meal or snack any time.
- Share grocery orders — if you live with other Nepali or South Asian students, pool your MasalaMart order to reach the £50 free delivery threshold and share the savings.
What You Can Buy at UK Supermarkets vs What You Need to Order Online
Available at UK supermarkets:
- Basmati rice, red lentils, moong dal
- Basic spices (turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala)
- Vegetables, eggs, chicken
- Ghee (some larger supermarkets)
Order online from MasalaMart:
- Timur (Nepali Sichuan pepper) — not available in supermarkets
- Jimbu — unique to Himalayan cooking
- Gundruk — impossible to find on UK high streets
- Chiura (beaten rice) — rarely stocked outside South Asian areas
- Kalo dal (black lentil), masyang dal mixes
- Mustard oil in larger quantities
- Nepali pickles (achar)
- Sel roti flour mix
Where to Order Nepali Groceries Online in the UK
MasalaMart delivers authentic South Asian and Nepali groceries across the UK — including to student cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, and Bristol.
Free delivery on orders over £50 — perfect for a monthly bulk order or splitting with housemates. Use code FESTIVAL10 for 10% off your first order over £50.
Ready to shop? Browse our Nepali Food collection to find groceries for your shopping list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find Nepali food in UK supermarkets?
You can find some South Asian basics — basmati rice, lentils, and standard spices — but specifically Nepali ingredients like timur, jimbu, gundruk, and chiura are very hard to find outside specialist South Asian areas. Online ordering from MasalaMart is the most reliable option for UK students anywhere in the country.
Is Nepali cooking expensive in the UK?
Not at all — Nepali cooking is actually one of the most budget-friendly cuisines you can cook in the UK. Dal Bhat can cost under £2 per serving when you buy ingredients in bulk. The key is buying staples like rice, dal, and spices in larger quantities online rather than in small supermarket packets.
How do I make momo at home in the UK?
For momos you will need plain flour (from any supermarket), mince (chicken or pork), cabbage, onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil. The timur-tomato dipping sauce is what makes them authentic — and timur is available at MasalaMart.