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With Chinese tyranny still oppressing the lives of Tibetans inside occupied Tibet some within the exiled Tibetan community will for a few days following February 16 may prefer a restrained Tibetan New Year (Losar) celebration. Totally understandable. Hard to celebrate with ongoing oppression, nomads forced into concentration settlements, show-trials illegally sentencing Tibetans, and China’s paramilitary forces placing regions, towns and monasteries under siege. Many though will enjoy the usual celebrations which accompany this festival, no doubt their will be much music, dancing and delicious feasts.  Apart from being immense fun it asserts Tibetan cultural identity and honors Tibet’s rich traditions.

For any of our friends and subscribers who may like to celebrate Losar here’s traditional Tibetan soup recipe which we are sure you will find very tasty, especially with the Winter lingering on. The ingredients for this are easily obtained and the method is not so difficult, producing a hearty and warming dish. The soup we have chosen is called in Tibetan Thenthuk. We hope you will enjoy preparing and sharing this meal, and in so doing spare a thought for Tibet’s true cause for national freedom.

Thenthuk (Flat Noodle Soup)

First make the Noodles

A handful of white flour (you can use any kind of flour)

100ml water (room temperature)

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 tsp oil

In a bowl mix these ingredients well and then knead on a floured surface for 4 minutes.Cover the dough and leave to stand for 5 minutes (you can use any kind of cover) but don’t leave it for longer than 5 minutes or it will get too sticky. Next, flatten the dough into a thin sheet and cut into long strips.

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Now The Soup

Heat a large, deep pan and fry the following for 30 seconds, or until the garlic begins to brown:

3 tbsp oil

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp garlic

1 tbsp ginger

Now Add The Following:

1 large tomato, roughly chopped

1 small onion, chopped in half

1 carrot, chopped thinly

1 green pepper, chopped

1 handful of cabbage, sliced (spinach or other greens are just as good)

Fry for 1 minute until the tomato is mashed then add 1200ml boiling water.

Now Add The Noodles

Before putting the pasta strips in the soup, drape them over your arm and tear strips off, about an inch in size. Cook for 2 minutes until the water is boiling again.

Finally add 1 tbsp soy sauce.

Before serving make a plain omlette (2 eggs for 6 people, 1/4tsp salt and 1/4tsp black pepper). Allow this to cool and then chop into strips before adding on top of each dish.

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No bowl of Tibetan soup is complete without a serving of chilli-sauce or powder. Enjoy

Grateful thanks to Lhamo’s Kitchen For this recipe