Rajasthan is the land of royals, and perhaps, it is the most colourful state in India. In this beautiful desert land, a rainbow of colours find their destination in Rajasthani attires, artefacts and even food! Rajasthan is a popular tourist destination, thanks to the spectacular forts and palaces. Rajasthani cuisine is mouth-watering. Be it the Ker Sangri, Laal Maas or the Daal Baati Choorma.
Diwali is just round the corner. The festival of Deepavali is celebrated in different parts of India in different ways. In Rajasthan, the land of Maharajas, it is celebrated with great pomp. Food plays an important role when it comes to celebrating Diwali in Rajasthani style. We listed down a few Diwali dishes that are eaten in Rajasthan during this Indian festival.
- Rajasthani Mawa Kachori
Jodhpur is famous for this dish. The outer cover of the kachori is generally made up of refined flour. The filling is a delicious mixture of mawa (or khoya) and dry fruits. This kachori is mildly flavoured with green cardamoms and cooked in ghee.
- Ghevar
Ghevar is also made with maida and its web-like appearance is what sets it apart from a crowd of mithais in India. This disc-shaped Rajasthani sweet tastes best when cooked in ghee. Drenched with sugar syrup, Ghevar is delicious when served with malai or rabri.
- Kanji Vada
With so many rich foods eaten during Diwali, don’t you think that there should be an antidote for all these? Kanji Vada is a Rajasthani drink-based snack which is perfect for digestion. The traditional non-alcoholic Rajasthani drink called Kanji is very flavourful in itself. With vada, the dish reaches another level altogether. The vada is made out of lentils and together, this is a perfect Diwali snack, as it washes down the rich, ghee-laden foods that we gorge on Diwali.
- Dil Khushal (also popular as Mohanthal or Besan ki Burfi)
Rajasthani cuisine uses besan or chickpea flour in many ways. A good example of this is the Dil Khushal. When besan is cooked with ghee and gives out a unique aroma, this cooked dough is pressed down in a thaal (plate). When this reaches room temperature, it partially solidifies. Once cool, you can cut squares of Dil Khushal and enjoy your Diwali sweet!
- Churma Laddoos
Churma Laddoos are the perfect Diwali sweets from Rajasthan. These laddoos are made from whole wheat flour or atta cooked in lots of desi ghee. This recipe for this sweet involves a few extra steps, and requires a lot of patience. But at the end, you get the most flavourful laddoos ever!
- Balushahi
This Indian doughnut is simply irresistible. It is crumbly and flaky from outside and soft from inside.
- Badam ka Halwa
Cooked with almond flour, this nutritious halwa is rich in nuts. It is generally eaten in winters to keep the body warm. During Diwali, this dessert is a perfect royal treat.