Cuisines of Rajasthan - Rajasthan Travel Guide

The cooking style in Rajasthan is somewhat patterned to the war-like lifestyle of the medieval era of Rajasthan where dishes depend on the availability of ingredients in the region. The food at the same time last for several days and could be eaten even without heating. Just like in the Desert of Jaisalmer, Barner and Bikaner, the dishes are prepared and cooked with a little amount of water. The cooks use more milk, buttermilk and clarified butter. This style also known as the Maheshwari cooking uses mango powder and asafoetida as substitutes for ingredients not abundant in the desert like tomatoes, garlic and onions.

One of the best known Rajasthani dishes is the mixture of dals (lentils), bati (baked wheat ball) and churma (powdered sweetened cereal). Another distinct dish in Rajasthan is their curry. Their curry appears as brilliant red and not the usual brown or gold in color. Despite its red color, it is not as spicy as the curries we know. Each region too in Rajasthan is known for their sweets. In Jodhpur, Mawa Kachori is a favorite; in Pushkar, there are Alwar Ka Mawa and Malpuas; Rasogullas in Bikaner and Ghevar in Jaipur.

Here are some of their foods to name a few of the Rajsthani dishes. One is the Mughal inspired dishes. Most of the eating habits of the Raiput courts are influenced by the Mughals. They have simple grilled meats which are served on leaves, curries, kebabs and pulao that are served on silver platters for the royalty. (Pulao is a rice dish prepared with clarified butter, spices, meat and vegetables.). Another dish is the Chapatti. Chapatti is flat unleavened bread looking like a spoon because it is used as a scoop for various foods. It has the ability to complement both the texture and the flavor of the food as it absorbs runny sauces and balances strong flavors as well as smoothness. The next dish is called the Puris. These are tasty fried wheat bubbles that can be eaten as snack, scoops for food and as complement to spicy foods. As for the beverage, there is the Lassi. Lassi or buttermilk is a summer beverage made by churning the natural yogurt and removing the butter content of the drink.

As the Delhi Sultanate weakened in the 16th Century, the Raiputs tried to expand their territory however they were not successful because they got defeated by the Empires they faced specifically by Babur.

The preparations of these dishes follow a very complex matter and can be considered as an art form. The recipes vary among the Rajasthani cooks but all have the kind of taste everyone will surely love no matter what your choice of food is.