Rajasthan is a vast state in India’s northwestern region, known for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant colours and of course, its delicious cuisine! Food in Rajasthan is mostly vegetarian due to the long-standing Jain influence.
However, the state has a variety of dishes which take inspiration from the surrounding area’s culture and cuisines – such as Marwari, Gujarati and even Mughlai. The food of Rajasthan also reflects its geography – being land-locked and facing extreme temperatures, the people have traditionally relied on ingredients like lentils, millets and grains.
Dal-Baati-Churma
This is one of the most famous dishes in Rajasthan. It is usually served during special occasions like weddings or festivals.
The dish consists of three components – dal (a spicy lentil curry), baati (deep fried wheat balls) and churma (a sweet dish made from crushed wheat balls mixed with sugar and ghee). The baatis are cooked over coal fire for a smoky flavour, which gives the dish its unique taste.
Gatte ki Sabzi
Gatte ki Sabzi is a popular vegetarian dish made with besan or gram flour dumplings in a spicy gravy. The dumplings are made by mixing besan with curd and spices such as chilli powder, coriander powder and garam masala. They are then boiled in water until they become firm enough to be cut into small pieces before being simmered in a spicy gravy made from tomatoes, onions and more spices.
Ker Sangri
Ker Sangri is an interesting combination of two locally available ingredients – Ker (a type of berry) and Sangri (a type of bean). It is usually cooked in desi ghee along with spices such as coriander powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder and garam masala to give it a delicious flavour. This dish can be served as an accompaniment to rotis or rice or even enjoyed on its own!
Laal Maans
This traditional Rajasthani delicacy consists of mutton cooked in red gravy made from yogurt, red chillies and garam masala. It is usually served with bajre ki roti – an unleavened flatbread made from millet flour – which gives it an earthy flavour that complements the spiciness of the laal maans perfectly!
Conclusion:
There are many more famous dishes from Rajasthan that you must try if you ever get a chance – be it the delicious kachoris or pyaaz kachori which are perfect for breakfast or lunch; or even the mawa kachori which is perfect for snacks! No matter what your palate desires – there’s something for everyone when it comes to food from Rajasthan!