Being one of the largest states of India, Rajasthan is much more than a land of deserts and camels. My tryst with the state of Rajasthan happened approximately eight years ago when I went on a family trip to Jaipur. A five-hour drive from Delhi, we reached the Pink city by evening. Since then I’ve made frequent trips to the city because apparently, my father strongly believes that he was a Raja is in previous life. Then, when I got a little older, we went for a school trip to Jaisalmer. Two things I loved the most there were sand dunes and the heritage of the city. Quite recently, I ticked off another city from the main hubs of Rajasthan, i.e. Udaipur. This was to give you a faint idea of how I’ve covered quite a few main cities of the state in my 24 years of life.
Anyways, that’s not the point. The point is that all these travel experiences have contributed to my understanding of the culture and taste of the place. From a foodies eye view, I scanned the city of Udaipur with utmost sincerity and came across several gems that shouldn’t be missed out by your taste buds. From authentic to fusion, from streets to the royal, here is a curation of some of the best eats of Udaipur that will give you a wholesome experience.
1. Mini Mirchi Bada
The name might have turned on the heat meter in your brain but that’s really not the case. Strolling around the market near City Palace, you would find a host of shacks and small stalls setting up shop at around 7 am in the morning. That’s when I spotted this thick, deep-fried item stacked in a corner, overshadowed by all the kachoris and samosas. A special kind of mirchi (green chilli) which is thicker in comparison to the regular hari mirch is dipped in a batter of gram flour (besan) and thrown in a kadhai full of hot oil. Served with fresh mint chutney, the chilies are deseeded and stuffed with potatoes before frying so you don’t have to worry. It’s made fresh only in the morning so make sure to grab yours in time.
2. Maggi Pakoda
Now, the name is not quite unfamiliar as I have heard of this fusion maggi recipe earlier but it’s in Udaipur that I decided to give it a try. The maggi noodles are prepared as is and then a scoop of it is taken to be dipped in besan and fried until they stick together. The result is crispy, golden-brown pakodas stuffed with our favourite maggi. I had this at Chu Chu ki Chai, a relatively newly-opened shack near the entrance of City Palace. You won’t miss out on the stall because the name is so catchy.
3. Kulhad Coffee
In the evenings, it gets cold since the mountains of Mewar encapsulate the city along the borders. We were search of a hot beverage when someone pointed us towards this small halwai shop. The hoarding read JBM written in bold and caps but what caught our attention was the kulhad coffee on their menu. Now, kulhad chai and kulhad doodh were close to my knowledge but this coffee served in kulhad was a fairly new idea. We waited as he tossed the coffee from the jug to the kulhad and vice-versa. The smoky flavour of the kulhad infused with the aromatic coffee beans did a magical thing on our taste buds and we went ahead for another round.
4. Banjara Murgh and Laal Maas
These were the two iconic non-vegetarian curries of Rajasthan that I had on my list when we entered the city of lakes. There are a plethora of palatial hotels and restaurants with scenic lake views and dining experiences. Since we couldn’t get reservations to Ambrai, our next option was Upre. A fine-dining restaurant amidst the beautiful Lake Pichola, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you should definitely try. That’s where we relished Rajasthani delicacies like Laal Maas and Banjara Murgh, along with garlic naan and jeera rice. The spicy mutton curry (laal maas) was a culmination of flavours while the creamy chicken curry was a treat to the taste buds.
5. Sev Tamatar Ki Sabzi With Ghee Roti
I had come across this combination while having a casual chat with some of the locals in Udaipur. The mashed tomatoes are cooked along with the thick, crunchy sev and spruced up with spices. The balanced flavours of tanginess and spiciness still make my mouth water. Best eaten with a ghee-slathered tawa roti, this was one of the most satisfying meals of the trip. While it is easily available at any small-scale restaurant, we had it at a place called Jodhpur Bhojnalaya.
6. Lehsooni Chutney With Tikkad Roti
Another delectable pairing that speaks volumes of the authentic taste of Rajasthan, the fiery, thick garlic chutney cannot be eaten alone. Made of wheat flour and maize flour, this tikkad roti is quite famous in the desert areas where it stuffed with chopped onions and coriander leaves to be eaten with a bowl of curd and lehsooni chutney on the side.
While these come to mind when I am reminded on my recent tour to the City of Lakes, there are other traditional dishes like Dal Baati Churma and Gatte Ki Sabzi which are quintessential Rajasthani favourites.