Call Us Now
+977-015907985
The MoMo is a type of stuffed dumpling, known for a unique Nepalese blend of spices in the stuffing. Its exact origins are unclear but, is believed to have originated from Tibet and dates back to the 14th century. The Lhasa Newar merchants traveling between Nepal and Tibet are credited with bringing the recipe to the Kathmandu Valley. The word MoMo is believed to be derived from the Tibetan word "mog mog" or a Chinese word for steamed bun, but also relates to the Newari term "ma neu", meaning "eat steamed".
Traditional Tibetan MoMo were often filled with yak meat, seasoned sparingly, and featured thicker dough for high-altitude endurance. After being brought to Kathmandu, it was refined with local spices, adopting a thinner skin and varied fillings. It is often paired with a spiced tomato condiment called 'Achar'.
The MoMo has become a staple not only in Nepal but also across India and various other countries. With surge in daily demand, manual MoMo making can become a bottleneck for growing businesses. To overcome this bottleneck, modern machines for automation of either a part or the entire process of MoMo production have to be implemented.
This article discusses how MoMo making process can be automated, various machines available in Nepal and a buyer's guide for MoMo making machines.
The MoMo making process typically involves Flour mixing, Dough kneading, Douch sheeting, Circular Wrapper Cutting, Filling preparation and MoMo wrapping.
The outer wrapper of MoMo is usually made of wheat flour (Maida). Flour, water, salt, and other ingredients need to be mixed and kneaded to prepare soft and elastic dough. In commercial setting, it is automated using Dough Making Machines, which achieve uniform mixing and thorough kneading.
After kneading, the dough is flattened and cut into thin circular wrappers. It is done using Momo Wrapper Making Machines.
The filling for momo is prepared by processing meat or vegetables into fine minced material and seasoning. Meat fillings are prepared using Meat Mincer Machines and vegetable fillings are processed using Veg Cutter Machines and onion choppers.
The prepared dough and filling are then supplied to momo forming machines such as the Round Shape MoMo Making Machine and the C-Shape MoMo Making Machine. These machines automatically feed the dough, inject filling, seal the edges, and shape the MoMo with adjustable thickness, size, and filling quantity.
The Round Shape MoMo Making Machine is a fully automatic machine designed for commercial momo production. It automatically feeds the dough, injects filling, forms the momo, and discharges finished pieces onto a conveyor belt. The dough thickness can be adjusted to less than 1 mm and both dough and filling quantities can be customized according to production requirements.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 8,000–10,000 pcs/hr |
| Power | 1.2 kW |
| Voltage | 220V |
| Weight | 200 kg |
| Machine Size | 2300 × 1200 × 670 mm |
| Momo Weight | 15–30 grams (adjustable) |
| Price (Nepal) | NPR 430,000 |
The Lamcho MoMo Making Machine produces MoMo with straight folds, commonly known in Nepal as "lamcho momo" or "veg momo". Depending on the mould used, the machine can also produce samosa-shaped and heart-shaped products. Filling quantity and dough thickness can be adjusted according to the requirements.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,000 pcs/hr |
| Power | 2.5 kW |
| Voltage | 110V / 220V |
| Weight | 180 kg |
| Machine Size | 1500 × 700 × 1450 mm |
| Price (Nepal) | NPR 430,000 |
| Extra Mould Cost | NPR 60,000–70,000 |
This machine requires a dough sheeter or momo wrapper making machine to prepare dough sheets before forming. The dough sheeter machine is available separately at approximately NPR 30,000.
The C-Shape MoMo Making Machine is a PLC-controlled automatic dumpling machine designed to produce crescent-shaped (C shaped) MoMo. It produces uniform products with accurate filling and dough control.
This machine has independent motors for dough and filling systems so, speed and weight adjustment convenient. All food-contact parts are designed for easy cleaning and maintenance.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2,400–3,000 pcs/hr |
| Power | 4.7 kW |
| Voltage | 220V |
| Weight | 550 kg |
| Machine Size | 1270 × 1475 × 1220 mm |
| Momo Weight | 22 grams |
| Price (Nepal) | NPR 25.5 Lakh |
This model is preferred by large-scale food manufacturers requiring premium appearance and consistent product quality.
The Semi C-Shape MoMo Making Machine is an economical alternative to the fully automatic C-shape momo machine. It produces crescent-shaped or C-shaped momo with consistent size and filling amount but, approptiate size and weight round wrappers have to be prepared and supplied manually.
| Wrapper Size | Wrapper Weight | Keema Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 cm | 6 g | 9 g | NPR 330,000 |
| 7.5 cm | 8 g | 11 g | |
| 8 cm | 9 – 10 g | 11 g | |
| 9 cm | 12 g | 16 g | |
| 9.5 cm | 13 g | 20 g | |
| 10 cm | 13 – 14 g | 22 g |
The Momo Wrapper Making Machine, also known as a Momo Roti Making Machine, Dumpling Wrapper Machine, or Momo Sheeter, is used to produce uniform circular wrappers for MoMo. It is especially useful for businesses that cannot immediately invest in a fully automatic momo machine.
The machine produces consistent wrapper thickness and diameter, reducing labor requirements while increasing productivity.
| Model | Capacity | Wrapper Size | Power | Price (Nepal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Model | 40 wrappers/min | Up to 9 cm | 150W | NPR 65,000 |
| Medium Model | 40 wrappers/min | Up to 12 cm | 180W | NPR 125,000 |
The Dough Kneading Machine is used to mix flour, water, and other ingredients to prepare uniform dough for MoMo wrapper production. It significantly reduces manual labor and improves consistency.\
It is available in three models with varying capacity, power and price.
| Batch Capacity | Motor Power | Price (Nepal) |
|---|---|---|
| 20–25 kg | 2 kW | NPR 95,000 |
| 13–15 kg | 1.5 kW | NPR 68,000 |
| 5 kg | 0.55 kW | NPR 48,000 |
In any machine, either automatic or semi-automatic, the filling must be prepared externally and supplied in the dedicated hopper. Thus, for large-scale production, the following machines make the filling making process faster and more convenient.
The Meat Mincer Machine is used to prepare keema for momo filling by grinding meat into fine and uniform particles.
| Model | Motor Power | Price (Nepal) |
|---|---|---|
| SS Meat Grinder HR12MD / HR22 / JR22 | 950W – 1200W | NPR 45,000 |
| SS Meat Mincer HR12 | 800W | NPR 35,000 |
| Mini Meat Mincer HR8 | 600W | NPR 25,000 |
The Veg Bowl Chopper Machine finely chops cabbage, onion, carrot, and other vegetables into a smooth mixture for filling (keema) preparation. It can create a fine vegetable mixture suitable for momo production.
| Bowl Capacity | Motor Power | Price (Nepal) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Liters | 1.5 kW | NPR 115,000 |
The Onion Chopper Machine is used for fast and uniform chopping of onions required in momo filling preparation.
| Model | Motor Power | Capacity | Price (Nepal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onion Chopper | 1 HP | 30 kg/hr | NPR 35,000 |
| Jumbo Onion Chopper | 2 HP | 70 kg/hr | NPR 48,000 |
| Machine | Automation | Capacity | Special Requirement | Price (Nepal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round Shape MoMo Making Machine | Fully Automatic | 8,000–10,000 pcs/hr | Direct dough & filling input | NPR 430,000 |
| Lamcho / Veg Shape MoMo Making Machine | Automatic Forming | 3,000 pcs/hr | Requires dough wrapper making machine | NPR 430,000 |
| C-Shape MoMo Making Machine | Fully Automatic | 2,400–3,000 pcs/hr | Direct dough & filling input | NPR 25.5 Lakh |
| Semi Automatic C-Shape Machine | Semi Automatic | Depends on operator | Manual wrapper feeding required | NPR 330,000 |
| Momo Wrapper Making Machine | Automatic | 40 wrappers/min | Wrapper production only | NPR 65,000–125,000 |
| Dough Kneading Machine | Automatic | 5–25 kg/batch | Dough preparation only | NPR 48,000–95,000 |
| Meat Mincer Machine | Automatic | Model dependent | Keema preparation | NPR 25,000–45,000 |
| Veg Bowl Chopper Machine | Automatic | 15 L bowl | Fine vegetable filling preparation | NPR 115,000 |
| Onion Chopper Machine | Automatic | 30–70 kg/hr | Onion preparation only | NPR 35,000–48,000 |
The price of MoMo making machines can vary according to the level of automation and production capacity. Basic equipment such as the Dough Kneading Machine starts from around NPR 48,000, while the Momo Wrapper Making Machine ranges from NPR 65,000 to NPR 125,000. Fully automatic machines such as the Round Shape MoMo Making Machine are available from around NPR 430,000, while industrial models such as the C-Shape MoMo Making Machine cost around NPR 25.5 lakh.
Small restaurants, and startups can purchase the Dough Kneading Machine and the Momo Wrapper Making Machine to increase their production capacity. Businesses seeking partial automation may also consider the Semi Automatic C-Shape MoMo Making Machine, which offers consistent shaping while requiring manual wrapper feeding.
For medium-scale production, the Round Shape MoMo Making Machine and the Lamcho / Veg Shape MoMo Making Machine are popular options. These machines automate the forming process and can produce thousands of pieces per hour, making them suitable for growing food businesses.
Large-scale manufacturers generally prefer the C-Shape MoMo Making Machine. It offers PLC-controlled operation, precise filling control, and consistent product quality, making it suitable for industrial production environments where appearance and uniformity are important.
Some machines, such as the Round Shape MoMo Making Machine and the C-Shape MoMo Making Machine, are fully automatic. They require dough and filling, from which they form and discharge finished MoMo. Other machines, such as the Semi Automatic C-Shape MoMo Making Machine, require manual wrapper feeding, while machines like the Momo Wrapper Making Machine automate only specific stages of production.
Yes. Machines such as the Round Shape MoMo Making Machine, Lamcho / Veg Shape MoMo Making Machine, and C-Shape MoMo Making Machine can all produce veg, chicken, buff, pork, and other varieties of momo. Proper cleaning should be carried out before switching between different fillings to maintain food safety and prevent cross-contamination.
Yes, but the shape depends on the machine model. The Round Shape MoMo Making Machine produces traditional round momo, the Lamcho / Veg Shape MoMo Making Machine produces straight-fold momo and can support additional moulds for other shapes, while the C-Shape MoMo Making Machine produces crescent-shaped momo.
Yes. Even fully automatic momo forming machines require prepared dough and filling to be supplied through dedicated hoppers. Dough can be prepared using the Dough Kneading Machine, while filling ingredients can be processed using the Meat Mincer Machine, Veg Bowl Chopper Machine, and Onion Chopper Machine.