A Journey Through Rajasthan with Food: Royal and Desert Cuisine

As is with all states in India, Rajasthan has its own distinct cuisines and flavors. With the majority of the state being a desert, the food is based on ingredients that can be sustained for long times and are diverse in their ability to enrich taste. One will often find lentils, gram flour, red chilies and yogurt to be the most common components of Rajasthani food, and these components are utilised differently depending on the type of dish.

Dal Baati Churma

A quintessential dish of Rajasthani cuisine, this meal features a three-piece combo of daal, or lentil curry, baati, or wheat balls, and churma, or crumbled wheat sweetened with jaggery. This is one of the most famous foods to come out of Rajasthan and can be found at almost any restaurant. If you’re introducing yourself to Rajasthani cuisine, it’s a great idea to start with this classic dish.

Mohan Maas

An indulgent curry consisting of meat slow cooked in a curd based gravy with dry fruits and spices, it is no surprise this used to be a staple in royal households. The name is similar to another iconic Rajasthani curry, Lal Maas, but the two are different in preparation, appearance and taste. Mohan Maas has a milder flavor and creamier base which makes it more appealing to those with less adventurous palates or low spice tolerances. 

Ker Sangri

This traditional dish is made using ker berries and dried Sangri beans, which are both native to the Thar desert. It is a kind of delicacy made in most Rajasthani households, especially in the Marwad region. Most households have their own method of making this dish but the basic ingredients and preparation remain the same. It is easy to preserve after being cooked and is a versatile side dish to many meals, hence its commonality. 

Gatte ki Sabji

Another iconic Rajasthani dish, gatte refers to balls of gram flour dough that are cooked and then added into a spicy curd-based gravy to make the sabji. It is fully vegetarian and is usually served with rice or roti, but can be eaten with any kind of Indian flatbread. It is commonly made in Rajasthani households and is also a frequent option on restaurant menus.

Ghevar

This is a famous sweet dish from Rajasthan, made with flour, ghee, and milk. The batter of these three ingredients is fried in a disc shape to create a honeycomb texture that the dish is famous for, and soaked in sugar syrup to sweeten. It is often topped with dry fruits and saffron. It is most commonly found in households at the time of festivals like Raksha Bandhan and Teej, during the monsoon months.