As soon as you think about the famous food of Bikaner, you are drawn to the lip-smacking flavours of chiwda, bhujia, rasgulla, and so more. However, there is so much food here other than the common sweets and snacks to take you on a culinary journey.
Across the traditional city, there is a myriad of small cafes, sweet shops, eateries, and even high-end restaurants serving delicious, mouth-watering local delights. If you are visiting Bikaner, you must explore and try out the local cuisines for a heavenly experience. Let us help you unravel some of the must-have famous foods of Bikaner.
Which is the Most Famous Food of Bikaner?
Settled across the edge of the Thar Desert, the small town of Bikaner is also known as the ‘camel city.’ The city is adorned with spectacular forts, vibrant heritage sites, and gigantic palaces that make up a majority of tourist attractions. Surpassing the grandeur of the ancient kingdoms of the region is the unmatched food and cuisine here that draw all.
As you explore the heritage city, indulge in the famous food of Bikaner to have a great tour. The food here is much more than the traditional dishes of Rajasthan. Here are some of the must-have local delicacies in Bikaner:
1. Bikaneri Bhujia
The snack once was cooked as a treat for the royals. In the modern era, it has become a national snack item that is highly sought-after across different parts of the nation. The classic Bikaneri Bhujia features the goodness of moth flour along with longi mirch and other essential spices.
The arid atmosphere and saline water of the region impart the bhujia prepared here a unique flavour. If you are a loyal fan of this must-have snack item, it is best to explore some of the local shops here to come across the best variant of this delight. In Bikaner, there is a dedicated bhujia bazaar featuring multiple small shops churning out the best of Bikaneri Bhujia.
2. Raj Kachori
The exact origins of this mouth-water delicacy might be a debatable topic. However, it is strongly believed that the Bikaneris ended up mastering the unique art of layering and filling the King of all Kachoris, the Raj Kachori. This delectable snack item indeed caters to all types of palates.
As you take a bite of this crispy, puffed-up snack, you are assured to be in surprise for a burst of flavours. You can get it all, sweet, tangy, spicy, and savoury at the same time. The famous Raj Kachori at different eateries and sweet shops of Bikaner are a meal by themselves. The delicious shell of the dish mixes a blend of unique flavours featuring wheat, semolina, and gram flour.
These crispy shells are filled with different textures, including that of potatoes, sprouts, fritters while being topped with yogurt, spices, chillies, pomegranate seeds, and coriander. Ultimately, to enhance the overall taste, the filling is coated deeply with different layers of tangy and spicy chutneys.
3. Shahi Samosa
The famous Laxmi Misthan Bhandar in the city has evolved the traditional snack item into the highly sought-after Shahi Samosa to bring about a royal touch to this delicacy. While the standard version of a samosa is filled with mashed potatoes, the shahi version of the snack features the richness of paneer and other veggies with an innovative touch-up of tomato ketchup. If you wish to try something out of the box in Bikaner, you must give this dish a try.
4. Papad Ki Sabzi
As far as the local Rajasthani cuisine is concerned, the use of papad has no boundaries. The popular, lightweight snack item is a sought-after appetiser, a common accompaniment, or even as a primary ingredient in a curry-based dish known as the Papad Ki Sabzi. It is a popular signature dish of the entire state.
However, the papad you get in Bikaner is just next to Bhujia in terms of its overall popularity. The curry-based dish is usually prepared in a rich yoghurt gravy. Some of the local chefs and eateries of the city have revolutionised the dish by also adding a mix of tomatoes and potatoes to the yoghurt sauce while seasoning the same with red chillies and a hint of garlic and methi. You can have this mouth-watering curry with steamed rice or rotis.
5. Gatte Ki Sabzi
Rajasthanis boast this famous cuisine across the state, especially in Bikaner. Every region of the state has a modified version of this delicious curry. Gattes are rich, spiced gram flour dumplings that are boiled and submerged in a spicy yoghurt curry.
In Bikaner, gates are shallow fried and tend to be smaller in size when compared with Jaipuri Gattes. In Bikaner, they also use a healthy combination of flavourful spices and herbs to enhance the overall flavour quotient. Gatte ki sabzi effectively complements dishes like baati, baajre ki roti, and chapati.
Conclusion
Bikaner is a famous desert town. Living amidst the arid region is the mastery of cooking scrumptious meals and snack items that have gained popularity across the world. As you set your foot in Bikaner, you will be mesmerised by the lovely affair between the locals and their unique food creations. To try out the same, you can now order food online in Bikaner from Swiggy.
FAQs
Which foods are must-try in Bikaner?
When it comes to trying out the local delicacies of Bikaner, you will be spoilt for choices. The popular desert city is dotted with a number of eateries and small sweet shops selling some of the most delectable items, including Bikaneri bhujia, raj kachori, Rajasthani thali, and so more.
Is Bikaner food influenced by other cultures?
The signature dishes of Bikaner have received ample influence from the royal kitchens of the region. Since the era of the Kings and Queens in the region, the locals have adopted the rich culinary skills and passed down the same through generations.
