Baati is a hard, unleavened bread cooked in most of areas of Rajasthan, and in some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujaratstates of India. It is prized for its long shelf life and high nutritional content, and, in desert areas, for the minimal quantity of water required for its preparation. Baati is commonly eaten with dal, hence also referred to as dal baati. In some regions, especially Madhya Pradesh, it is also paired with a roasted aubergine mash called bharta. Baati is also closely related to litti, popular in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Baati can either be plain or have various kinds of fillings, including onions, peas, and sattu. Bafla is a kind of baati, which is softer. Bafla and baati are always eaten with hot dal with pure ghee and chutney. Churma is a popular delicacy usually served with baatis and dal. It is coarsely ground wheat crushed and cooked with ghee clarified butter and sugar. Traditionally it is made by mashing up wheat flour baatis or leftover rotis in ghee and jaggery, optionally mixed with dry fruits and flavours. It can be eaten alone or with dal.
Daal-baati-churma
Dal-baati-churma is a popular pairing of three dishes and a complete meal. Dal Baati is a popular Rajasthani dish consisting of mainly Uradh Dal and Baati i.e. small wheat bread balls. Baati is dipped in pure ghee and served hot in a traditional earthen pot. Dal is served in a small bucket shaped vessel with a red chilli tadka on top, spicy garlic chutney, or with besan. It is traditionally prepared by coarsely mashing baati and pouring ghee on top of it. It is commonly served at all festivities, including religious occasions, wedding ceremonies, and birthday parties in Rajasthan.
Rajasthani thaali is incomplete without baati. Baati is also served with besan gatte, boondi raytaa. Garlic chutney, paapad, kadhi and mango pickle. In Madhya Pradesh, you will see Dall-Baati being served with other dishes as well for example, Bharrta or fried potatoes. Kadhi is also eaten with Daal-Baati as it adds the liquid element in the whole combination. Baati, as made up of different kinds of flours, makes you thirsty. To maintain the water content in the whole combination Kadhi is also eaten with Daal-Baati. Gatte ki Sabzi, made up of Besan and spices, is also eaten in western Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is little bit spicier so added the element of spices to the whole thali. Mango Pickle and Green Chutney are integral part of the thali. In western Madhya Pradesh towards Malwa, sweet rice is also cooked and served in the Thali. The rice is cooked with saffron, sugar and cloves.
