Write a paragraph (60 to 80 words) on history or origin of any particular food. The paragraph should be written neatly, properly and decorative with colorful pictures too.
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What Chole Bhature is to Punjab, Dal Baati Churma is to Rajasthan. A quintessential Rajasthani dish, this three-in-one treat (baked baati with spicy panchmel dal and sweet crumbly churma) is revered as much for its simplicity as for its delicious taste. While this culinary gem is famed for its wonderful taste, the fascinating story behind its origin is virtually unknown.
Baati (little doughballs made of wheat flour, ghee and milk) is believed to have originated during the time of Bappa Rawal – the founder of the kingdom of Mewar. Back then, the Rajputs were establishing their stronghold in the region and baati was their preferred war time meal.
It is believed that the Rajput soldiers would break the dough into chunks and leave it buried under thin layers of sand to bake under the sun. On their return from the battlefield, they world dig out the perfectly baked baatis that were then slathered with ghee and consumed with curd made from goat or camel milk.
It was later, when traders from the Gupta Empire settled in Mewar, that the combination of dal and baati became popular – panchmel dal was a much-loved favourite in the royal court of the Guptas. The panchmel dal is a simple and nuritious mix of five lentils – moong dal, chana dal, toor dal, masoor dal and urad dal – prepared with a fragrant tempering of cumin, cloves and other spices.
Churma, on the other hand, is believed to have been invented when a cook of Mewar’s Guhilot clan accidentally poured sugarcane juice into some baatis. Realising that it had made the baati softer, the women of the clan started dunking the battis in sweet water (made from sugarcane or jaggery) in an attempt to keep the baatis soft and fresh for their husbands. This eventually evolved into churma, a sweetened and cardamom-flavoured mix of crushed baati.
So, it was in desert kingdom of Mewar that this mouth-watering combination of sweet, spicy and bland bread originated. As the dish became popular throughout Rajasthan, each local dynasty added its own twist to the combination. And finally, with Akbar’s queen, Rani Jodha Bai, dal baati churma reached the Mughal court.
Both litti chokha and dal baati churma are deceptively delicious. Keeping in mind their surprisingly similar appearance and taste, these two can perhaps be called culinary cousins, with litti being the spicier one!
Now that you know the fascinating history of Dal Baati Churma, don’t forget to try this delightful dish in its hometown, Rajasthan!