If there's one Indian place that boasts of royal traditions, culture, heritage and golden sand dunes, it has to be Rajasthan. The state is also known for a tempting array of delicacies that forms an integral part of the rich heritage of the state. From fiery meat curries to interesting kachoris, one can stumble upon various such delights while moving around in Rajasthan. A large part of Rajasthani cuisine is influenced by its geography. Being a dry and hot region, most of the Rajasthani dishes are heavily dependent on milk, curd, butter, ghee and cream instead of water.
Dal baati choorma is one of the most popular dishes in Rajasthan. It is a three-in-one meal that brings together the goodness of lentil (dal), the crispy baatis and sweet choorma. Dal Baati Choorma is a perfect traditional dish that will be the star dish on your dinner table. As per legends, the sweet is served along with the main meal in Rajasthan. This quite explains the addition of choorma in this wholesome dish of dal baati choorma. It is made by grinding a mix of suji, whole wheat flour, sugar and ghee and when served with dal and baati, it is sure to give you a burst of flavours. The dal is traditionally made of urad but nowadays 2-3 dals are often mixed together for a heavy, nutritious dish.
Baatis are tikki-like flatbreads which are originally made with simple flour dough, but today, many people stuff them with spices and veggies to make them even richer and flavourful. And if you are someone who wants to try it at home, we have the perfect stuffed baati recipe to begin with. The original baatis are deep-fried in ghee, this one is a healthier alternative since it is baked.
(Also Read: 7 Sumptous Rajasthani Recipes)
In the recipe, all you need to do is make a dough of atta, sooji (semolina), ghee, salt and milk, shape into flat rounds, stuff it with a cooked filling of peas, along with spices such as cumin, asafoetida (hing), ginger, coriander, garam masala, chilli powder, salt and amchoor and bake for about 50 minutes. Dip in some ghee right before serving with dal and choorma!
Click here for the full recipe of choorma.
Try this popular Rajasthani delicacy of dal baati choorma at home and share your experience with us in the comments section below.