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Rajasthan is a place with a lot of history and culture. It's known for colours, festivals, traditions, and tasty food. When it gets cold in winter, the food in Rajasthan changes to include dishes that taste great and help keep you warm.
These traditional winter recipes from Rajasthan are creative in how they use spices, grains, and local stuff. They have everything from big meals to sweet snacks. Each dish shows the food culture of Rajasthan and is perfect for winter.
From Gajak to bati, here are seven great winter dishes from Rajasthan with easy recipes:
1. Rajasthani Masala Makki Ki Baati
In love with dal bati churma? This is a new gluten-free version of the classic bati, made from corn flour. With green chilies, garlic, ginger, and different spices like coriander, red chili, cumin, coriander powder, and asafoetida in the dough, make it more delicious. One can also add spinach or fenugreek leaves. These batis are generally cooked in a special oven for a smoky taste, and adding ghee brings a fantastic smell.
Easy Recipe: Combine two cups of corn flour with one teaspoon of crushed green chilies, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Add one teaspoon each of coriander powder, red chili powder, cumin seeds, and a pinch of asafoetida. Mix in chopped spinach or fenugreek leaves for a better taste.
2. Gajak
A traditional sweet for winter, Gajak is made from sesame seeds and jaggery. The sesame seeds are crunchy, and the jaggery adds a sweet, warm flavor. This crispy treat is popular in the colder months.
Easy Recipe: Roast 1.5 cups of sesame seeds in a pan until golden. Melt 300 gm of jaggery with 2-3 tablespoons of water in another pan. Cook it until it's thick. Mix the roasted sesame seeds with the jaggery syrup. Put the mix on a greased tray, flatten it, and cut it into shapes when cool.
Image Credit: iStock
3. Bajre Ka Raab
This is a warm, healthy drink made from pearl millet flour. It's perfect for cold winters and is good for digestion and keeping warm.
Easy Recipe: Heat 2 tablespoons of ghee in a pan. Add 2 tablespoons of bajra flour and roast until brown. Add crushed dry fruits, 1 teaspoon of ajwain seeds, and a pinch of sunth (dry ginger) powder. Add 1.5 glasses of water and jaggery to taste. Cook until it thickens. You can add a pinch of salt if you like.
4. Lilva Ki Kachori
These are fried pastries with a spicy filling of lilva beans, which taste a bit like green peas. The kachoris are crispy on the outside and full of flavor on the inside.
Easy Recipe: For the dough, mix 1 cup of plain flour with 2.5 teaspoons of melted ghee and salt. Add water to make a semi-soft dough. For the filling, blend 2 cups of lilva beans into a rough paste. In a pan, heat some oil, add a bit of asafoetida, ginger paste, and cook. Add the lilva paste, green chili paste, lemon juice, sugar, and chopped coriander. Make small dough balls, fill them with the mix, seal, and fry until golden.
5. Moong Dal Ka Halwa
A sweet, creamy dessert made from ground moong dal, ghee, milk, and sugar. It's flavored with cardamom and saffron and has nuts on top. Great for cold nights.
Easy Recipe: Soak 1.5 cups of moong dal for 5 hours, then grind it. In a pan, heat ghee, add gram flour and semolina, and cook till golden. Add the moong dal paste and cook till brown. Make a sugar syrup with sugar and water, and add to the dal. Cook till it's thick and put chopped dry fruits on top.
6. Besan Ke Pakode Ki Khichdi
A unique dish with chickpea flour dumplings in spicy gravy. It's a hearty and tasty meal, perfect for winter evenings.
Easy Recipe: Make a batter with chickpea flour, water, and spices. Make small dumplings and fry them until golden. For the gravy, cook onions, tomatoes, garlic, and ginger with spices. Add water and boil. Put the fried dumplings in and cook until the gravy gets thick.
7. Haldi Ki Sabji
This dish uses fresh turmeric root, which is healthy. It's cooked with peas, yogurt, and spices, giving a unique taste and warmth.
Easy Recipe: Cook sliced onions and green chilies in ghee. Add grated turmeric and cook till it doesn't smell raw. Add peas, cauliflower (optional), red chili powder, coriander powder, and salt. Cook a bit, add yogurt, and cook for 5-6 minutes.
With its flavors and textures, Rajasthani food is just right for winter. These dishes show the area's rich food history and keep you warm and full in the cold months. From spicy masala bati to sweet moong dal halwa, and the unique haldi ki sabji, each dish is full of flavor and tradition. Eating these dishes is like experiencing the heart of Rajasthan, making winter a great time for people who love food.
