Rajasthan always manages to attract people from around the globe with its glorifying history, breathtaking palaces, rich culture, and delicious cuisine. Rajasthani flavors’ are deeply framed around its heritage, climatic conditions, limited vegetation, and scarcity of water, leading to its unique flavors. Back then there were many dishes cooked and served just in the royal palaces but gradually over time, many local versions of these royal dishes were conceived. Here are some must-try items of the Rajasthani cuisine:
15 Food Items to Try when in Rajasthan
1. Jungli Maas
This was one of the royal dishes prepared from the king’s hunting experience. It is made with chillies and minimum ingredients as it was difficult to carry a lot of ingredients while hunting. [The Maas means ‘Meat’ which could have been anything hunted by the King like a rabbit, deer, boar or a goat]. The ingredients used are Mathania chillies, salt and ghee. Now, it is served and cooked by the locals and goat meat is used. The traditional maas is very spicy due to chilies but is finger-licking good and one of the most famous dishes among Rajasthani people.
2. Laal Maas
Laal Maas as a dish has evolved from the royal kitchen and today, there are various kinds of Laal Maas served in Rajasthan. Some prefer to cook the lamb in ghee while others in mustard oil, some may even add curd in their dish to keep a check on spice.
3. Safed Maas
This dish became the favorite of those who don’t like lot of chilies and spices in their meat. Safed Maas is prepared with all white ingredients like white pepper, ginger garlic paste, curd and a lot of dry fruits like peeled almonds, cashew nuts, coconut, pistachio, etc. which lead to its quiet creamy and heavy texture.
This dish was mainly prepared on the day of Sharad Purnima, as all the items made on that day are white in color to celebrate the harvest festival on the full moon day.
4. Kachori
Kachori like Pyaaz ki kachori or Dal ki kachori are basically an all-time snack in Rajasthan. They are like crunchy pastry stuffed with pyaaz (onions) or dal and served with chutney. It’s a go-to dish anytime, anywhere.
5. Ghevar
Ghevar is a disc-shaped sweet which is mainly prepared during special occasions like Diwali or Raksha Bandhan. For people with a sweet tooth, it’s like heaven on earth. It’s made with flour, ghee, milk, chopped almonds, pistachios, cardamom and saffron. The crispy sweet is soaked in sugar syrup and garnished with nuts and edible silver leaves.
6. Dal Bati Churma
It is one of the signature dishes of Rajasthan. No Rajasthani food is complete without Dal Bati Churma. The dish is a combination of three different items- a Bati dipped in ghee with a spicy Panchkuti dal and Churma which is sweet to balance the whole dish.
7. Mirch Pakora/ Bada
This is a popular tea-time or street snack of Rajasthan. Large green peppers are stuffed with spicy potatoes, coated with gram flour batter and then deep-fried until crispy. You can find these appetizing Rajasthani Mirchi Bada anywhere served with tomato chutney.
8. Mawa Kachori
This mawa kachori in Jodhpur is a must-try dish in Rajasthan. Crispy Kachori stuffed with sweet mawa mixed with dry fruits and then dipped in sugar syrup gives it a crunchy sweet crust. This delicacy of Rajasthan is commonly served after lunch or dinner.
9. Badam Ka Halwa
Your fondness for sweets is taken care of, just fill your platter with this delicious Badam Ka Halwa and dig in. Prepared with soaked almonds, suji, sugar and ghee, it melts in your mouth leaving you to ask for another hot serve.
10. Gatte Ki Sabji
The specialty of this dish is that it does not need any vegetables. The curry is prepared with buttermilk and other spices whereas the Gatta is made of Gram flour balls mixed with some spices. It’s best enjoyed with rotis and rice.
11. Bejre Roti and Lashun Ki chutney
Bejre ki Roti is made up of three different types of flour – jo (Barley), chana (Chickpeas) and gehu (Whole wheat). The healthy bread is enjoyed with Lashun Ki chutney. This chutney is made with garlic and other spices, mainly chilly. It’s a staple food for locals in Rajasthan.
12. Ker Sangri
This is a traditional Rajasthani dish made with dried beans and berries grown locally. It is often made dry and spicy. One can enjoy this mouth-watering dish with rice and roti.
13. Kalakand / Alwar ka Mawa
It’s a famous sweet dish from Rajasthan. It is prepared by simmering milk in a larger iron kadai until it solidifies and became thick. After this, paneer cubes, sugar and a handful of dry fruits are added to it. Kalakand has its origin in the city of Alwar from where it became famous and now it’s the most preferred sweet dish during festivals or marriages.
