Nestled on the edge of the massive Thar Desert, the scenic city of Bikaner is also referred to as the Camel Country. The place is filled with spectacular forts, vibrant heritage sites, and magnificent palaces that make it one of the leading tourist destinations in Rajasthan. The Havelis of the ancient city are grand and exhibit luxury in all forms.
In addition to the overall grandeur of the erstwhile kingdoms of the region, the city is also famous for its mouth-watering delights, including sweets. As you visit the city, it is recommended to indulge in the best dishes and desserts that Bikaner has to offer. When you are in this historic city, explore the lanes and sweet shops to try out the Bikaner famous sweets.
What are the Most Famous Sweets of Bikaner?
Bikaner is a scenic desert town. As soon as you set foot in Bikaner, you can feel the overall love affair between the daily lives of Bikaneris and their scrumptious sweet creations. The narrow bylanes of the city are adorned with all types of gastronomical temptations, including mouth-watering sweets.
When you are trying out some of the most famous sweets of Bikaner, you will realise that pure desi ghee forms an integral part of their preparation. These desserts will indeed relieve you from your sweet cravings. We bet you cannot go through the article without getting tempted to try some for yourself. Here are some of the most famous sweets of Bikaner you must have:
1. Mohanthal
Mohanthal is a traditional Rajasthani dessert prepared out of the richness of besan or gram flour. The besan is initially roasted in a generous portion of pure desi ghee until the mixture turns golden brown and aromatic. The delicate preparation method of this delicacy imparts a rich, nutty texture. It is one of the best sweets in Bikaner as well.
To the mixture, milk, sugar, and rich spices like cardamom and saffron are added. Eventually, the mixture is set into unique shapes like diamonds or squares. To enhance the overall experience, Mohanthal is adorned with slivered pistachios and almonds, imparting a delicious crunch to the otherwise fudgy, soft texture.
2. Churma
It is a delectable sweet that highlights the essence of the rich culinary culture of Rajasthan. The delicacy is prepared by coarsely grinding wheat dough that has been earlier deep fried. This fried version of wheat dough is known as Bati. To the ground mixture, loads of ghee are added. To enhance the overall flavours, local sweet shops of Bikaner also add high-end ingredients like cardamom, saffron, and sugar.
When you order a plate of Churma, it is best consumed with the complete meal of Dal Bati Churma in the city. It is one of the most delicious Rajasthani meals you would love to have. The overall gritty texture of the sweet dish blends the aromatic and sweet flavours of its ingredients effectively. This unique essence makes the dish a sought-after sweet dish amongst the locals and tourists alike.
3. Balushahi
It is yet another quintessential Bikaneri sweet treat featuring its origin in North India. Balushahi is available as thick, round, flaky pastries that have been deep-fried. After deep-frying these pastries, they are dipped in rich sugar syrup to enhance the overall flavours.
Balushahi is known for its rich, flaky exterior along with a soft, mushy, melt-in-your-mouth interior core. Often, the sweet dish is flavoured with cardamom and garnished with chopped almonds or pistachios. While the dish is favourite throughout the year in Bikaner, it is particularly enjoyed on special occasions and festivals.
4. Gajak
Gajak is a delicious, special treat that marks the beginning of winter in Bikaner. This sweet is primarily made out of jaggery and sesame seeds. Due to this, a divine combination of earthy and nutty flavours is achieved.
To prepare the delicacy, sesame seeds are initially roasted. Then, the same is mixed with melted jaggery. The thick mixture is eventually poured into moulds to settle down. Once the mixture has cooled down and solidified, Gajak is eventually cut into rectangles or squares. The use of sesame in the preparation of Gajak not only helps in adding a delightful crunch to the dish but also makes it immensely nutritious and delicious for the winter season.
5. Ghevar
Ghevar is famous across every lane of Bikaner as the must-have dessert in Rajasthan. The sweet dish is renowned for its flaky, lacy, and intricate appearance and texture. It is one of the crowning jewels of the list of most famous sweets of Bikaner. Ghevar boasts its origins in the royal kitchens of the kings of the erstwhile era in Rajasthan.
Ghevar is prepared out of a rich batter of milk, ghee, and flour. The batter is eventually deep-fried to create a porous, crispy disc. The discs are then dipped in a sugar syrup infused with the aromatic goodness of saffron and cardamom. This helps in imparting Ghevar its unique flavour and sweetness. To enhance the overall feel and experience, Ghevar discs are garnished with slivers of pistachios and almonds.
6. Mawa Kachori
Kachoris are one of the most Bikaner famous sweets. However, the sweetened version of Mawa Kachori takes the savoury delight to the next level. These deep-fried and sweetened pastries are filled with a rich stuffing of khoya or mawa, nuts, dry fruits, and aromatic spices.
Once these are deep-fried, they are deliciously dipped in rich sugar syrup to enhance the overall taste and texture. As a result, you get this sugar-dipped, crunchy, sweetened snack featuring a creamy, mouth-watering filling. Mawa Kachori is a divine dessert item in Bikaner that you must have on your next trip.
Conclusion
As you are visiting this historic city, it is recommended to try out some of the most famous sweets of Bikaner. The best part is that you can get them across the leading sweet shops and eateries of the city. To enjoy the same, you can now order online in Bikaner from Swiggy to get doorstep delivery.
