What to Eat in Mandawa Today?

Famous Food to Eat in Mandawa

Almost all of the local food is vegetarian and rich with ghee. Try these dishes while you are in Mandawa.

Dal Baati Churma

Hard wheat rolls called baati are baked, broken open and soaked in ghee, then eaten with spiced dal and churma, a sweet crumble of wheat, ghee and sugar. It is the dish most people think of when they think of Rajasthan.

Gatte ki Sabzi

Steamed gram-flour dumplings cooked in a spiced yoghurt gravy. It was created for a dry land where fresh vegetables were hard to find, and it is still a daily staple.

Ker Sangri

A dry, tangy dish made from ker, a wild desert berry, and sangri, the beans of the khejri tree, cooked with spices and oil. It is one of the most typical dishes of the Shekhawati region.

Rajasthani Thali

A full plate with dal baati, gatte, ker sangri, bajra roti, churma and buttermilk. It is the easiest way to taste most of the local dishes in one meal.

Ghevar

A round, honeycomb-like sweet made from fried batter soaked in syrup, sometimes topped with rabri and nuts. It is most closely linked with the Teej festival, though sweet shops often sell it at other times too.

Sweets and Snacks in Mandawa

The main bazaar has sweet shops and small tea stalls where you can stop between havelis. Look for ghevar and other Rajasthani sweets at Shekhawati Sweets in Mandawa Bazaar, and have a cup of masala chai while you watch the street go by.

Food Tips for Travellers in Mandawa

• Try a Rajasthani thali at least once to taste several dishes together.
• Local food is rich in ghee, so ask for less if you prefer a lighter meal.
• Vegetarians will find it easy to eat well, as most local dishes are meat-free.
• Drink bottled or filtered water, especially in the hot months.
• Mandawa is a small town, so the choice of restaurants is limited and many close early.
• Carry cash for sweet shops and tea stalls.