Despite being an arid region, Rajasthan is known for its distinct cuisine that includes spicy curries, savory sweets and sun-dried homemade snacks.
If you are planning to visit the Royal state, you can try some of these delectable dishes. They are sure to take your taste buds on a roller coaster ride.
Bajre ki Roti
Bajre ki Roti, made of pearl millet flour is one of the delicious Rajasthani foods. It is a storehouse of energy and fiber.
The flour is considered as a good source of protein and iron. It is a great alternative to wheat-based roti.
You can add chopped onions or leafy vegetables like coriander, pudina and dill leaves to the dough to make them more flavourful.
It is recommended to knead the dough well before rolling them out as this helps in making it soft and non-crumbly.
Once the dough is ready, pinch a lemon-size ball from it and dust it with some bajra flour to roll into a roti. Alternatively, you can also pat the dough with your hands.
These rotis can be served with any vegetarian gravy or dry sabzis. They can also be accompanied with lasun ki chutney – a garlic dip prepared from garlic, red chilli powder, lime juice and homemade butter.
Gatte ki Sabzi
In the desert state of Rajasthan, people could make delicious, nutritious meals using just a few ingredients they had in their pantry. One such recipe is Gatte ki Sabzi, which has tender gram flour dumplings cooked in spicy yogurt-based gravy called besan kadhi.
The dish is popular on Jain special occasions like chaudas and pakhi as it is a vegetarian option that can be prepared without any meat or fish. The yoghurt-based sauce is tempered with spices and served with a side of rice or roti.
To prepare this tasty sabzi, mix together besan, hing, cumin seeds, carom seeds(ajwain), fennel seed(saunf), oil and curd. Then knead a stiff dough with water and roll it into cylindrical rolls. Cook the rolled besan in boiling water for 10-12 minutes until it floats on the surface of the water and bubbles appear.
Laal Maas
Rajasthan has a rich variety of dishes. Some of them have an exceptional taste and are quite different from the rest.
One of the most popular and delicious dishes from Rajasthan is Laal Maas. It’s made with mutton and it has a rich, glossy sauce.
This is an exceptionally spicy curry with a unique tangy flavour and it’s a real delight for anyone who loves lamb.
A smoky taste is also present in this dish and it’s made with Mathania chillies.
This is a very popular meat dish that has become a staple in Indian kitchens and it’s a great option to serve for special occasions. It goes well with hot phulkas or bajra roti.
Kachori
Kachori is a delicious Indian snack made with a flour-based shell that has different fillings. It is popular in Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab and other Indian states.
A seasoned yellow moong dal is the primary ingredient in most kachoris. Other ingredients include spices like red chili powder, coriander powder, fennel seeds and cumin powder.
While many kachoris are dry, there are also some that are more moist. One such dish is the pyaaz ki kachori which is made with plain flour and onion filling.
This fried snack is a must try while in Rajasthan, especially if you want to experience the true taste of this cuisine. It is most often eaten with other chaat recipes. It is served with a variety of chutneys and garnished with sev, cilantro and pomegranate.