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Rajasthani cuisine is the traditional cuisine of the Rajasthan state in north-west India. It was influenced by various factors like the warlike lifestyles of its inhabitants, the availability of ingredients in an arid region and by Hindu temple traditions of sampradayas like Pushtimarg and Ramanandi. [1] [2] Food that could last for several days and could be eaten without heating was preferred.
Scarcity of water and fresh green vegetables have all had their effect on the cooking. Signature Rajasthani dishes include Dal Baati Churma, Panchratna Dal, Papad ro Saag, Ker Sangri, [3] Gatte ro Saag. It is also known for its snacks like Bikaneri bhujia, Mirchi bada and Kanda kachauri. Other famous dishes include Dal Baati, malaidar special lassi (lassi) and Lashun ki chutney (hot garlic paste), Mawa lassi from Jodhpur, Alwar ka mawa, Malpauas from Pushkar and rasgulla from Bikaner, "paniya"and "gheriya" from Mewar. [2]
Originating for the Marwar region of the state is the concept Marwari Bhojnalaya, or vegetarian restaurants, today found in many parts of India, which offer vegetarian food of the Marwari people. The history also has its effect on the diet as the Rajputs preferred majorly a non-vegetarian diet while the Brahmins, Jains, Bishnois and others preferred a vegetarian diet. So, the state has a myriad of both types of delicacies. [4]
According to a 2014 survey released by the registrar general of India, Rajasthan has 74.9% vegetarians, which makes it the most vegetarian state in India. [5]
Rajasthan is known for its Royal Rajwaadi cuisine (also known as Raajsi cuisine) which emanated from the culinary traditions of Royal courts and temples. [6]
The Rajwaadi cuisine is characterized by high usage of dry fruits & milk products like Yogurt for preparing rich gravies, ghee & butter for cooking & frying, mawa & chhena for sweets, usage of Kesar, kewda water & rose water and whole spices like jayaphal, javitri, cardamom etc. for flavoring and aroma. [7]
Often Rajwaadi food items are decorated with thin foils of gold & silver and also served in golden or silver crockery.
Rajasthani cuisine is also influenced by the Rajputs, who traditionally consume sacrificial meat only. Their diet consisted of game meat which is procured only via Jhatka method. Some of the non vegetarian lamb dishes like Ratto Maans (meat in red gravy), Dhaulo Maans (meat in white gravy) and Jungli maans (game meat cooked with basic ingredients). [8] [9] [10] Another popular non vegetarian dish from Rajasthan is Maans ra Soola, which is a kind of spitted or skewered meat. [11] Another dish is Sohita or Soyeta, delectably made from chicken, millets, ginger and chilli. [12]
Apart from lamb, chicken and freshwater fish are also cooked; for example Bhuna Kukada and Macchli Jaisamandi. [13] Another royal non vegetarian recipe is Khadd Khargosh or Khadd Susalyo is a curried rabbit dish, based on a traditional Indian hunter dish common in the days of the Rajput kings, where the rabbits would be wrapped in leaves and baked in a freshly dug pit which acted as an oven. [14] Mokal is another non vegetarian dish which is prepared from rabbit meat cooked with lemon, almond and nutmeg.
Rajasthani cooking employs use of Barbecue, grilling and baking techniques for preparing an array of foods. Various cooking equipments are used in Rajasthani culinary tradition for this purpose. Every household has its own grill locally known by the name Sigdi (Sanskrit: शकटी, Śakṭī) or Angithi (Sanskrit: अग्निस्थिका, Agnisthikā). Clay ovens called bhatthi or tandoor are also very common. [15] In fact, these clay ovens i.e. Bhatthi (Sanskrit: भ्राष्ट्र Bhrāshtra) or tandoor originated in Rajasthan. Indus Valley site : Kalibangan in Rajasthan has the earliest archaeological evidence of using clay ovens resembling present day tandoors. [16] These Sigdis/Angithis/Bhatthis or tandoors would then be used for baking breads like Baati , Angakadi, Baphla, Angarki roti, Kinwani roti (fermented flour roti). Often Soolas of maans (meat), macchli (fish) & chhena (cottage cheese) were barbecued using skewers in these clay oven. Khadd ka Pind is yet another barbecue technique employed by Rajasthan royal princes while their hunting expeditions. [14]
Since Rajasthan is mostly an arid state, wheat and millets form the staple diet instead of rice (which are common in rest of India).
Various breads are prepared from wheat like tawa roti, Angarki/Tandoori roti, Kinwani roti (naturally fermented flour roti) etc. Khoba Roti is a special roti from Rajasthan which is prepared by pinching the dough to make a beautiful pattern of indentations on roti. [17] It is very common to prepare large sized rotis called Rotlas/Bhakri using flour of millets like Bajra (Pearl millet), Makai (Maize), Jowar etc.
Gram flour is usually mixed with wheat flour to prepare missi atta which is then used to prepare Missi Roti. Sometimes, multigrain flatbread called Bejad Roti is prepared by mixing wheat flour with jowar flour and besan. [18] Tikkad is another typical Rajasthani bread which is prepared by blend of flours and vegetables. [19] Kanda Tamatar Tikkad and Bajra Mooli Tikkad are some common variations of Tikkad. [20]
Deep fried breads include: puris & kachauris (stuffed with dal pithi, vegetables, mawa etc.). Kanda Kachauri , prepared using stuffing of onion based mixture is a speciality of Rajasthani cuisine. Mawa Kachauri is sweet version of Kachauri stuffed with mawa. Jhakolma Puri is a speciality of Mewari cuisine which is a large sized puri prepared using wheat dough of flowing consistency. [21] It is served with Chana Dal and Amchur chutney.
Pan cooked breads like parathas (mostly stuffed with vegetables, dals or chhena), cheelas, pudlas, tikkads, malpuas etc. One unique paratha of Rajasthan is Korma Paratha or Dal Churi Paratha which is prepared using korma or dal churi (semi crushed coarse lentils and its husk). [22] Some common varaitions of Cheelas include Besan Cheela and Mogar Cheela. using Baked breads include Baatis , [23] Angarki roti/Tandoori roti, Angarki paratha, Kinwani roti etc.
Rajasthani culinary tradition is known for array of sweet dishes and desserts emanating from Naivedhya tradition of Hindu temples.
Milk and its products like chhena, mawa, malai, makhan, ghee, rabdi are used abundantly in many of the Rajasthani sweets & desserts.
Owing to dry atmosphere of Rajasthan, Besan (gram flour) and lentils are also commonly used for preparing desserts apart from wheat flour.
The Vaishnavite traditions of Rajasthan like Pushtimarg, Nimabarka and Ramanandi are known for their Naivedheya and Chhapan Bhog tradition in their temples. In this tradition, the temple deity is offered royally embellished food and sweets rich in dry fruits and milk products. These embellished sweets were then distributed amongst common people and devotees visiting the temple. Such culinary temple traditions were patronized by Rajput royals and wealthy Baniya merchants of Rajasthan.
In Rajasthan each and every festival and religious occasion is associated with some unique dessert. Some of the popular Rajasthani desserts are:
Other popular sweets include: Jalebi, Imarti, Mawa Jamun, Rasgulla, Rabdi, Ras Malai, Palang Torh, Milk-Cake (Alwar ka Mawa) etc. [28]
Use of lentils and pulses is very common in Rajasthani cuisine. The combination of Dal & Roti forms the staple diet of Rajasthan.
Apart from lentil soups, a number of food preparations are made using lentils like mangodi, pakodas, pittod, gatte, sev, pappad etc. Gram flour called besan and moong flour called mogar are frequently used in Rajasthani cuisine.
Some unique vegetables used in Rajasthan are: Ker (Capparis decidua), Sangri (Prosopis cineraria), Gunda (Cordia dichotoma), Kumatiya (Acacia senegal), Guar phali (cluster bean), Moringa (drumstick), Kikoda (spiny gourd), Kamal kakdi (lotus stem), Kachri (Cucumis pubescence), fogla, borkut ber, fofaliya (dry tinda). Other common vegetables of Rajasthan are Aloo (potatoes), Kanda (onion), Bhindi (okra), Gajar (carrot) cucurbits like pumpkin and ash gourd. Greens of Sarson (mustard), Chana (gram), bathua, methi (fenugreek) are also commonly used. Vegetable preparations are often called Saag, while saucy preparations are called Teewan or Teeman. The combo of Saag & Rota forms part of staple diet of Rajasthan.
Launji refers to sweet & tangy relish prepared from vegetables or fruits, which is served as an accompaniment in a Rajasthani meal. [44] Variations of Launji include:
Many a times, sweet preserves are made from fruits and the preparation is called Chhunda. Some variations include:
Athana or Athano are pickles prepared in Rajasthani and North Indian cuisine. Some varaitions include:
An instant pickle is made from chopped green chillies is called Mirchi Tipore. This is different from Mirchi Athana as Tipore is an instant pickle prepared using chopped chillies, while Mirchi Athana is prepared using whole slit chillies (usually stuffed). [46]
Indian cuisine consists of a variety of regional and traditional cuisines native to the Indian subcontinent. Given the diversity in soil, climate, culture, ethnic groups, and occupations, these cuisines vary substantially and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits.
Roti is a round flatbread originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is commonly consumed in many South Asian, Southeast Asian, Caribbean, and Southeast African countries.
Saag, also spelled sag or saga, is an Indian subcontinental leafy vegetable dish eaten with bread, such as roti or naan, or in some regions with rice. Saag can be made from mustard greens, collard greens, basella or finely chopped broccoli along with added spices and sometimes other ingredients, such as chhena.
Bhakri is a round flatbread often eaten in the cuisines of the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Karnataka in India. The bhakri prepared using jowar or bajra which is coarser than a regular wheat chapati. Bhakri can be either soft or hard in texture, unlike khakhra in respect to hardness.
Baati is a hard, unleavened bread cooked in most areas of Rajasthan, and in some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat states of India. It is prized for its long shelf life and high nutritional content, and, in desert areas, for the minimal quantity of water required for its preparation. Baati is commonly eaten with dal, hence also referred to as dal baati. In some regions, especially Madhya Pradesh, it is also paired with a roasted aubergine mash called bharta. Baati is also closely related to Litti (cuisine), popular in eastern Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi) and western Bihar. Litti is eaten with potato, tomato and roasted aubergine.
Gujarati cuisine is the cuisine of the Indian state of Gujarat. The typical Gujarati thali consists of rotli, dal or curry, rice, and shaak. The thali will also include preparations made from pulses or whole beans such as moong, black eyed beans etc., a snack item (farsaan) like dhokla, pathra, samosa, fafda, etc. and a sweet (mishthaan) like mohanthal, jalebi, sevaiya etc.
Indian breads are a wide variety of flatbreads and crêpes which are an integral part of Indian cuisine. Their variation reflects the diversity of Indian culture and food habits.
Kachori is a deep-fried, spicy, stuffed pastry originating from the Marwar region of Rajasthan, India. It is made of maida filled with a stuffing of baked mixture of moong dal or onions, besan, coriander, red chili powder, salt, and other Indian spices and deep-fried in vegetable oil until crispy golden brown. It is served hot with sweet and spicy tamarind chutney or occasionally with mint and green chilli chutney.
Kadhi or karhi is a yogurt-based dish originating from Rajasthan, india. It's made by simmering yogurt with besan and indian spices until it forms a thick, tangy gravy. Sometimes, it's also mixed with pakoras. It is often eaten with cooked rice or roti.
Dal Bati Churma is the most popular dish in Rajasthani cuisine. It is made up of three components of bati, dal, and churma. Dal is lentils, bati is a baked wheat ball, and churma is powdered sweetened cereal. Churma is a popular delicacy mostly served with baatis and dal. It is coarsely ground wheat crushed and cooked with ghee and sugar. Traditionally it is made by mashing up wheat flour baatis or left over rotis in ghee and jaggery.
Bhojpuri cuisine is a style of food preparation common among the Bhojpuri people of Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh in India, and also the Terai region of Nepal. Bhojpuri foods are mostly mild and tend to be less hot in terms of spices used. The cuisine consists of both vegetable and meat dishes.
Churma is a popular Rajasthani, Bihari, Uttar Pradesi, Haryanvi, and Awadhi delicacy from India. In Punjab, the dish is called churi. It is coarsely ground wheat, crushed and cooked with ghee and sugar.
Besan Chakki or Besan Katli or Besan Khandli is a common chakki sweet from the Indian subcontinent. It is made with besan, condensed milk, and sugar.
Bharunda is a village that comes under Sumerpur Tehsil in Pali district, Rajasthan. The Bharunda is an ancient village well connected to all surrounding villages and towns in the same vicinity.
Jharkhandi cuisine is the cuisine of the Indian state of Jharkhand. Staple foods are rice, dal and vegetables. Common meals often consist of vegetables that are cooked in various ways, such as curried, fried, roasted and boiled. Many traditional dishes of Jharkhand may not be available at restaurants.
Bihari cuisine is eaten mainly in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, as well as in the places where people originating from the state of Bihar have settled: Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius, South Africa, Fiji, some cities of Pakistan, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Jamaica, and the Caribbean. Bihari cuisine includes Angika cuisine, Bhojpuri cuisine, Maithil cuisine and Magahi cuisine. Dal Puri
Andhra cuisine, culturally known as Telugu cuisine, is a cuisine of India native to the state of Andhra Pradesh and is the culinary style of Telugu people. It is generally known for its tangy, hot, and spicy taste.
Panchratna dal is a popular dal in the Indian subcontinent and Indian-origin communities in Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Lentils are an integral part of Indian cuisine. This is a dish customarily served on special occasions. It is usually accompanied by an Indian flatbread or roti.
Daal bati is an Indian dish of dal (lentils) and bati. It is popular in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra's Khandesh and Vidarbha region, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.
Cuisines and food of the Indian state of Haryana is known to be simple. People of the state prefer their food to be made with fresh ingredients and through simple recipes. Roti is a staple food in Haryana which is made from a variety of grains and flours. Since Haryana is rich with agriculture and cattle, the use of dairy products is abundant in their food. Many households churn out fresh butter from milk and use it as opposed to the butter available in the markets. Lassi is a popular and staple drink in Haryana. The food in Haryana finds a lot of similarities with its neighboring states Punjab and Rajasthan.
Consumption of non-vegetarian food is generally avoided in the state and sometimes is even considered a taboo among the rural population.
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has generic name (help)Among non-vegetarian options in main course, Lal Maans easily outshines the rest. Savoured by the erstwhile Rajasthani prince and princesses, Lal Maans is a special mutton preparation cooked in mathani chilli of Jodhpur. Another dish worth trying is Sohito, delectably made from chicken, millets, ginger and chilli...Another dish worth trying is Sohito, delectably made from chicken, millets, ginger and chilli.
Tandoor is a common cooking practice in Rajasthan.....Tandoor is a pretty common and very interesting cooking method of Rajasthan.
Khoba, which means incisions on bread, makes this Rajasthani bread a delight- ful sight
which consists of roti prepared with flour of jowar maize, bajra or Bejad, i.e., mixed cereals.
Jhakolma Puri (name of the puri) it is made with a special kind of wheat flour of which they make dough of flowing consistency.
Mohanthal is a traditional Gujarati sweet which is usually prepared on the festivals of Diwali and Janmashtami, also popular in Rajasthan.....Mohan is another name of the Lord Krishna and Thal means bhog (dish) in Gujarati, as this sweet is usually served as Bhog (prasad) to the God.
Makhan Bada is a traditional festive recipe from Rajasthan.
Amlana is a delicious Rajasthani drink made with tamarind pulp, perked up with spices like pepper and cardamom.
Imli ka Amlana is a lesser known drink from the bylanes of Marwar region. This simple drink is an excellent amalgamation of tangy tamarind, black salt, roasted spices and mint leaves and ice cold water.
Bajra raab is an easy and soothing porridge recipe that can be made for an enriching breakfast or an immunity-boosting mid-day snack.
Bajra Raab is a mildly sweetened drink with jaggery. Indian pearl millet drink has a comforting taste and mouth-feel that kind of warms the body.
Locals believe that the legendary Paniya churio, made of crushed maize bread, jaggery and hot clarified butter is a great digestive.
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