We are delighted to share these three beautiful new tsampa recipes by Ann Lachman, owner of Purple Mountain Tsampa. If you’re new to Tibetan food, tsampa is a hearty, nutty-tasting flour made from roasted barley. Ann’s recipes are a tasty, updated twist on the most traditional way of eating tsampa in Tibet, as pa — hand-pressed pieces of dough made from tsampa, butter from the female of the yak species, sugar, dried cheese and Tibetan tea. (Recipe for pa in Tibetan Home Cooking.) We are happy to recommend Purple Mountain if you’re looking for a source to buy tsampa. Ann’s hulless barley produces particularly nutritious and tasty tsampa.
Honey-Almond-Date Tsampa Balls
1 cup tsampa
1/3 cup chopped almonds
1/3 cup chopped pitted dates
2-3 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons honey or agave (use more or less to suite your tastes)
Drop of almond extract
Pinch of salt
Put all of the above ingredients in a food processor, and pulse until combined. [If you don’t have a processor, you can just mix well by hand.] Then add just enough orange juice or water, a little bit at a time, until the mixture holds together and will hold a ball shape. Form the mixture into balls, measuring with a tablespoon. Roll the finished balls in finely ground almonds.
Chocolate-Pecan Tsampa Balls
1 cup tsampa
1/3 cup chopped pecans (or other nuts)
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
3 tablespoons sugar or agave (use more or less to suite your tastes)
2-3 tablespoons melted butter
Drop of vanilla
Pinch of salt
Put all of the above ingredients in a food processor, and pulse until combined. [If you don’t have a processor, you can just mix well by hand.] Then add just enough coffee or water, a little bit at a time, until the mixture holds together and will hold a ball shape. Form the mixture into balls, measuring with a tablespoon. Roll the finished balls in unsweetened cocoa.
Cinnamon-Maple-Walnut Tsampa Balls
1 cup tsampa
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup raisins
2-3 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons Maple syrup or agave (use more or less to suite your tastes)
Drop of vanilla extract
Dash of cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Put all of the above ingredients in a food processor, and pulse until combined. [If you don’t have a processor, you can just mix well by hand.] Then add just enough water, a little bit at a time, until the mixture holds together and will hold a ball shape. Form the mixture into balls, measuring with a tablespoon. Finish the balls by rolling them in cinnamon.
Tibetan Home Cooking
Bring joy to the people you love by making your own delicious, authentic Tibetan meals
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