The
place where cooking food is considered an art form one can imagine what
a treat is awaiting a man in love with authentic food; Rajasthan is one
such state. Every state has region specific food depending upon the
vegetable and meat that is available there and the kind of living
conditions and climate of the state. Rajasthan too has typical
Rajasthani food due to the hot and arid climate and the warring
condition of the state in the past. The kinds of dishes that have
evolved in Rajasthan are prepared to last the long wars and are the ones
which need not be heated over and again. Due to scarcity of water the
meals which are cooked here do not require large amount of water. In
fact in regions like Barmer, Jaisalmer and Bikaner where water is always
short the meals are prepared in milk, ghee and buttermilk. The dishes of Rajasthan will definitely satisfy your taste buds despite the climatic limitations and lack of several vegetables. Like the majestic lifestyle of the Kings the meals of the royalty were also as majestic. The elaborate meals were prepared by the khansamas or the royal cooks. Many of the delicious recipes of the royal cooks were kept a secret while some were passed on to the succeeding generations. In Rajasthan both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes are popular. The Rajput Kings in earlier days frequently went on hunting and hence the game was used to be prepared as a meal for the royal party. Some of the communities of Rajasthan are however purely vegetarian like the Bishnois and the Maheshwaris.
The use of pure ghee, gram flour, lentil, Bajra, chilies, corn and mango powder is very common in most of the dishes which are cooked in Rajasthan. While talking about Rajasthani food it s imperative to mention the most popular and common dish of Rajasthan dal (lentil), bati (baked wheat ball) and churma (sweet cereal cooked in ghee). Almost all the regions within Rajasthan have their local flavors to offer while you are on a tour to Rajasthan; ghevar of Jaipur, mawa kachori of Jodhpur, malpuas of Pushkar, sohan halwa of Ajmer are few of the regional delicacies. Sweets are an integral part of the Rajasthani food which are not merely used as desserts and are consumed before and even along with the meal. Besanchakki, dilkhushaal, churma, balushahi, motichoor ladoos, ghevar are some of the popular sweets of Rajasthan.