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Rajasthan has a very rich culture history. There are so many significant events in the history of India that have taken place in Rajasthan. It is one of the most famous tourist places in India today because of magnificent monuments and landmarks that are a reflection of the true history of our country. The food practices in Rajasthan are majorly influenced by the Rajputana culture and the Mughal's who invaded the area later on. But hunting has always been a royal custom among noble families of Rajasthan. Rajasthani kings and even queens used to select days and go on hunting trips.
Also Read: Discover the taste of Rajasthan
Usually, the hunting party would leave the palace before the break of dawn. Hunting required special skills and was known as Shikaar. Some of the most famous and preferable Shikars would include a wild boar, rabbit, jungle fowl, or Sambar. After the hunting party would shoot their desirable number of Shikars, they would go back to the palace and give it to the royal kitchen. There the meat that would be marinated properly and prepared for the feast in the evening. Even though the Royals of Rajasthan were interested in eating non-vegetarian food, the entry or even the odour of meat, blood and feathers in the royal food was prohibited. This led to the invention of subtle dishes like Kaleji Ka Raita which is a very light dish prepared by boiling liver with some yoghurt. The yoghurt helps in suppressing the flavour of meat and also reduces the odour.
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Shaping Of Shikari Cuisine
Shaping of Shikari or game cuisine is also hugely dependent on the geography and terrain of a particular area. A lot of dishes in the Shikari Cusine were produced out of necessity and not the creativity of the chef. Many times the kings would be at war and there were limited resources on the campus. To make the best use of the limited resources, chefs would come up with a lot of interesting foods.
Rajput chefs would be highly talented and become experienced in making new dishes from the spot with whatever was available. Also, there has been a shortage of water in Rajasthan from the beginning. So the best two ingredients that were available to compensate for water were yoghurt and garlic. If you look at Rajputana cuisine closely then you will find that there is a pervasive use of both yoghurt and garlic in their food. Also, the Shikari Cusine emphasizes retaining the flavour of the meat and removing its order. It is not over-spiced at all and people like to eat meat in its flashy form.
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Famous Shikari Recipes
One of the most famous recipes in the Shikari cuisine is the Shikari rabbit. The flesh of the rabbit is first marinated with a lot of spices and is wrapped in layers of roti. Then a copper pipe is inserted inside the meat and everything is wrapped with banana leaves or leaves from Gulmohar. This is finally wrapped in a damp jute that has the mouth of the copper tube. It is then kept in hot charcoal and buried properly. During the process of cooking, lots of ghee is added through the mouth of the copper tube with the help of the copper tube. This dish is slow-cooked in charcoal for at least three hours before being served hot.
Another one of the best recipes from the Shikha cuisine that is still very famous in Rajasthan is Laal Maas. Most people think that Mathania Mirch or red chillies are used in the preparation of Laal Maas. But this is where everybody is wrong. Traditionally, every region in Rajasthan used to use their regionally available variety of chilli in this dish. Also, social economic factors played an important role in the preparation of dishes. The poor families in Rajasthan would add a lot of hot red chillies, more water and fewer spices to feed a large family. On the other hand, noble families in Rajasthan would prepare this dish by adding lesser spices and chillies and a thicker gravy was prepared.
Hunting is now an illegal activity across the country. This has led to a decline of Shikari cuisine and you no longer hear about it from your favourite chefs. Many chefs and traditional households in Rajasthan take inspiration from Shikari cuisine and use it in contemporary recipes. Although it is almost impossible to replicate traditional Shikari cuisine, you can try using these flavours and cooking techniques while making dishes at home. Due to the constantly evolving food practices and customs, many traditional cuisines in India are getting lost. The only way to keep them alive is to make a dish or two inspired by these cooking methods and flavours from time to time with whatever is available at our home.
