Apart from palaces and medieval forts, giant arched gateways and centuries-old markets Jaipur is also celebrated for its epicurean treasures. Give your palate a treat by trying out the famous dishes of Rajasthan’s capital.
Tuck into a Thali
An ideal way to explore the diverse cuisine of Jaipur is to tuck into a Rajasthani thali. Chokhi Dhani and Thali House are some of the options amongst many. A Rajasthani thali will give you the perfect intro to the wide spectrum of flavours that you will expect to come across in the desert state. Some of the highlights of a vegetarian thali meal include the different breads made from bajra and jowar. Gatte ki sabji and amras ki kadhi are delicious gravies. Top it up with some thandai and chaach, cool drinks to complete the thali extravaganza.
Glorious Red Meat
Laal Maas is the flagship mutton preparation of this region. The meat is painstakingly cooked over a slow fire with spices. Red chillies give this preparation the name and the fiery colour. In Jaipur you can head over to the famous Handi restaurant and indulge in this meaty special. Niros on MI Road is also famous for its mutton dishes. Meat lovers will love the Old Takeaway on MI Road, famous for its juicy kebabs. Some of the specialities include hariyali chicken and tandoori chicken. You can also pick up from shawarma rolls from this legendary joint.
Dal Bati Churma – Quintessentially Rajasthan
This brief glimpse into Jaipur’s cuisines will be incomplete without mentioning dal bati churma, a simple and colourful dish that blends savoury and sweet into one delicious experience. Bati is a ball prepared from flour which you dip in the dal. Mix a bit of churma for that sweet edge. Here is an interesting fact – this iconic dish is believed to have evolved in the old kingdom of Mewar and its legend even spread into the royal kitchens of Akbar’s court. If you want to enjoy the best dal bati churma in Jaipur, head over to The Rajasthani at the World Trade Park or you can enjoy the dish at the famous Chokhi Dhani restaurant.
Snacks Galore
The savoury pyaaz ki kachori is an uncomplicated dish, some spicy onions in a hollowed fried bread. Head over to Rawat Mistan Bhandar, located in the Sindhi Camp locality to try this and the dal kachoris. If you are in Bapu Nagar, then Sodhani Sweets is a great stop for these snacks. Bhujiya and sev is another typical Rajasthani namkeen.
The Sweet Stuff
The people of Jaipur take pride in their lassi. Refresh yourself with a saffron-infused Jodhpuri lassi or go for the regular one, complete with a thick coating of cream. The best places to enjoy a lassi in Jaipur include Lassiwala at MI Road, which serves it in earthen tumblers, and Laxmi Mistan Bhandar on the bustling Johri Bazaar. The latter is also famous for rabri ghewar, a milk-based dessert. Mohanthal is a Diwali-special dessert, prepared from powdered chickpea and mawa.
To enjoy all this food you will need to do a bit of travelling around town. There are many options for cabs in Jaipur which can be your ride for this culinary adventure. Book a taxi from Jaipur to Delhi once your trip is done and go back with memories of the royal city that will make your taste-buds tingle.
Love traveling.
