Rajasthani food is something that never ceases to amaze me. On my recent trip to Fort Barli in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan, owner and Executive Chef Karni Singh fed me three dishes that reiterated the fact that food can still surprise me. A bit of history about Karni before we dive into the food. Coming from a long line of Rajputs, Karni loves his share of good spirits and stories. Educated in the prestigious Mayo College, he spent a fair amount of time at his ancestral properties around Jodhpur and Ajmer. This is where he learnt the rustic dishes of Rajasthan. The dishes are in perfect confluence with the rustic environs and old world hospitality of the Fort Barli.
Siri Paye
A dish that takes it’s roots from the Mughal empire. But the amalgamation of Rajputana and Mughal cultures has been well recorded in history. Cooked from the hooves of the goat, the Siri Paye takes on rich, luscious flavours. There are loads of soft, succulent bone marrow which makes your dinner a heavenly experience. Combine it with some handmade Indian breads for an experience of a lifetime.
Junglee Maas
The Rajputana princes and kings have always loved their hunts. On the way to these hunts, meals usually used to consist of locally sourced products. The Junglee Maas literally translating to Wild Meat is a typical example. Cooked with just four ingredients: Locally killed game, Salt, chillies and clarified butter, this dish represents the true rustic flavours. Karni adds some garlic and chili powder to the dish to give it some more flavours. The rich yet simple flavours is something that you will really love.
Haldi ki subzi
Turmeric has one of the highest amount of medicinal properties among the Indian spices. Most dishes whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian consist of a fair amount of turmeric in it. But cooking the turmeric in it’s raw form to get to the actual taste of it is something truly interesting. Accompanied by a load of clarified butter, this dish creates a lot of internal heat in you. An apt dish for winters, we accompanied it with a thick handmade Indian bread to soak up the ghee.
For someone looking to experience Rajasthan in all it’s majestic glory, do try out these dishes wherever you can.
