Famous for its Deserts & colorful regal culture on one hand and Lakes and nomadic tribes on the other, it is easy to overlook Rajasthan as a competitive centre of gastronomy. However, Rajasthan is the perfect place to experience a fine royal dining, exquisite restaurants, local delicacies and gastronomic delights.

“A well-?fed man is a happy man; a man who for­gives and for­gets trans­gres­sions, a man who extends the ben­e­fit of doubt, and for whom no insult pen­e­trates as deeply as the plea­sure of his gourmandize. We find seren­ity of mind and body, when appe­tiz­ing food is served in pleas­ant sur­round­ings and eaten with care and atten­tion. It facil­i­tates relax­ation, con­tent­ment, gen­eros­ity, and felicity.”

The secret of the unique and delicious flavor of Rajasthani food can be discovered in acooking that has been influenced by both the traditional warrior lifestyles of its inhabitants and the availability of ingredients in this mostly arid region. The Rajasthani cuisine though predominantly vegetarian, is also known for its unique and rich non-vegetarian dishes, dishes that have been nurtured and perfected in the royal kitchens over generations.

Typical Rajasthani dishes:

Rajasthan offers one a plethora of   tempting variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian disheswhich are absolutely unique to this region. So for all the lovers of novel food this is the place to be.

Daal Bati Churma,consisting of three items of bati (a hard, round bread made of wheat, which becomes softer and richer when Ghee is poured into it), dal (lentils) and churma, (coarsely ground wheat crushed and cooked with ghee and sugar), is a typical Rajasthani dish which is commonly eaten at festivities, including religious occasions, wedding ceremonies, and birthday parties in Rajasthan This delicacy is prized here for its long shelf life and high nutritional content, as well as the minimal quantity of water required for its preparation.

Besides this a typical vegetarian Rajasthani thali/diet would include items such as Bail Gatte, Panchkoota ki Sabzi, Ker-saangri ki sabzi, rabori ki sabzi, khati chach, kadhi and bajre ki roti to name a few items. The non-vegetarian delicacies include special recipes like Mohan maans (meat cooked in milk), Laal maans (meat in red chillies curry), Safed maans (meat cooked in curd), Saanth ro achaar (pickled wild boar meat), Khad khargosh (wild hare cooked and roasted underground) and Dhungar Maans (meat cooked in charcoal) to name a few.   Besides these, sweets also form an important part of a Rajasthani diet.  Mewa Kachori of Jodhpur, Dil jani of Udaipur, Malpuas of Pushkar, Ghevar and Mishri Mawa of Jaipur and Sohan Halwa of Ajmerwill leave you with many sweet and delightful memories.

In Rajasthan, the food is predominantly cooked in pure ghee and hence the aroma and taste of Rajasthani food will linger in your mouth long after you left the dining area. To enjoy ethnic vegetarian Rajasthani dishes you can try the Chokhi Dhani in Jaipur or Aapni Dhani in Udaipur. Kisan Bhojnalaya and Poker Sweets in Jodhpur also are good places to indulge your palate to some authentic Rajasthani vegetarian cuisines. Ambrai in Udaipur, On the Rocks in Jodhpur and Marhaba( Indiana Hotel), Spice Court and Haandi in Jaipur provide you with sumptuous Rajasthani Non-vegetarian dishes.

So embark on a gastronomic journey to taste the rich flavors and aroma of Rajasthan and indulge your taste buds in the amazing variety of Rajasthani dishes. Bon Appétit!!!

Shinod Lukose, My Destination Rajasthan
July 2011