New Delhi, Feb. 27 -- Driving down from Delhi to nearby hills you may have made a pit stop at one of the numerous roadside eateries. You may also have ordered bite-sized steamed momos and devoured them with a fiery chilli sauce. Chances are, those momos were mass-produced and manufactured, yes, you read it right-manufactured in a factory-a few hundred miles away, not far from where you live.

The thought may be revolting, eroding the charm associated with the steamy hand-pleated snack from the Himalayas. But it makes sense for restaurants and small eateries. They can buy frozen, ready-to-steam-and-serve momos for as low as Rs.5 per piece, rather than hire skilled hands to make it fresh. Frozen ones can be stored up to a year, and often ta...