Words & Photography: Nidhi Gopal // Additional Photography: Immerse India
That question opened a whole new curious perspective on travel for me. As a country where food is deeply tied to culture, festivals, and family, India offers both a challenge and a delightful surprise for vegan travellers. Especially in Rajasthan, which is a land of royal feasts, cream-laden sweets, and rich curries, finding vegan options can seem daunting. But as I dig a little deeper, I discovered an entirely new culinary landscape waiting to be explored.
Let’s talk about Rajasthan’s Vegan food Heritage first
Until a few years ago, the concept of veganism was almost unfamiliar in most parts of Rajasthan. Vegetarianism, of course, has always been deeply rooted in the state’s culture; thanks to religious traditions, agrarian lifestyles, and the influence of Jain and Vaishnav communities. But veganism, which is abstaining from all animal products, including dairy, was rarely heard of in everyday conversation or restaurant menus.
That, however, is beginning to change as Rajasthan is witnessing a quiet shift toward conscious and plant-based eating.
Many traditional Rajasthani dishes also happen to be vegan by nature, such as Bajra rotis, ker sangri (a desert bean and berry dish), gatte ki sabzi (when made without curd), and chana dal. Street food vendors too often serve poha, pakoras, or chaat that can be customised by skipping yogurt or ghee.
Rajasthan, often seen as the land of ghee, milk sweets, and butter-laden curries, might not seem like an obvious destination for vegan food. Yet, the roots of plant-based living have always existed here in subtler ways. The state’s arid climate has historically inspired a cuisine that is both sustainable and resourceful, built around grains like bajra and jowar, pulses, lentils, beans, and desert vegetables like ker sangri.
With a few simple tweaks by replacing ghee with oil, skipping curd, or swapping paneer with tofu, many traditional dishes become completely vegan. Today, travellers can easily find vegan meal options in Rajasthan, from hearty dal-baati served with oil instead of ghee to flavourful sabzis and rotis
Unarguably, Rajasthan’s cuisine is as vibrant as its landscapes, most colourful, earthy, and full of character. While its rich thalis, rotis, and aromatic curries might not seem vegan-friendly at first glance, a closer look reveals that many traditional Rajasthani dishes are either naturally vegan or can be easily adapted to a plant-based diet without losing their authentic flavours. Here are a few vegan dishes of Rajasthan you can try;
The Everyday Staples
A typical Rajasthani meal is simple yet nourishing, built around grains like bajra (pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), wheat, and gram flour (besan). The most iconic dish, Dal Baati Churma, can be made fully vegan by replacing ghee with vegetable oil or vegan butter. The crispy baked baati pairs beautifully with spicy lentils and churma, a sweet crumble made from flour, jaggery, and nuts. Another everyday staple is Bajre ki Roti, a hearty millet flatbread that’s already vegan. Traditionally served with garlic chutney or lehsun ki kachri, it’s a local delicacy that bursts with rustic flavours.
If you want to experience the earthy side of Rajasthan, don’t miss Ker Sangri, which is a dry curry made with desert beans and berries sautéed in mustard oil and spices. It’s tangy, spicy, and 100% plant-based by nature.
Popular Side Dishes
For sides, Gatte ki Sabzi (gram flour dumplings in curry) is a Rajasthani must-try. While it’s usually cooked in yogurt gravy, it can easily be made vegan with coconut or cashew-based curd. Similarly, Rajasthani Kadhi, which is a spiced curd-based curry, can be prepared with dairy-free yogurt without losing its comforting flavour.
Other popular sides include Aloo Pyaaz ki Sabzi, Moong Dal, and Tinda Masala, which are often cooked in oil rather than ghee in traditional homes. A splash of lemon and fresh coriander brings them to life.
Vegan-Friendly Snacks
Rajasthan’s snacks are an explosion of flavour and texture that are crispy, spicy, and addictive. The best part? Many are already vegan!
Kachoris (crispy stuffed pastries) from Jodhpur or Bikaner are often filled with spiced lentils or onions and fried in oil. Just make sure they aren’t brushed with ghee after frying.
Another local favourite is Mirchi Vada, made of large green chillies stuffed with spiced potato mash, dipped in gram flour batter, and deep-fried to golden perfection. Pair it with imli (tamarind) or mint chutney, and you have the perfect vegan snack. Pakoras, Samosas, and Sev Tamatar ki Subzi are also reliable go-tos for travellers seeking quick vegan bites across roadside dhabas and cafés.
Sweet Treats (with a Vegan Twist)
Rajasthan’s sweets are famous across India, but most traditional desserts like ghevar, mawa kachori, or rabri are dairy-heavy. However, vegan-friendly bakeries and home chefs in Jaipur and Udaipur are now experimenting with almond milk rabri, soy-based ghevar, and vegan ladoos made from coconut oil and jaggery instead of ghee. You can find some of these creative desserts at conscious cafés like Anokhi Café (Jaipur) or Millets of Mewar (Udaipur), or through small home-based bakeries that promote plant-based living.
Emerging Vegan Food Businesses in Rajasthan
Just like in the metro cities, local restaurants and cafés are leading the vegan wave in Rajasthan. Many have started reimagining traditional recipes with plant-based alternatives. Here are a few worth checking out if you’re travelling through the state:
Jaipur: The Pink City’s Conscious Kitchens
Jaipur has evolved into a cosmopolitan hub where vegan cafés coexist with centuries-old food traditions. Places like Anokhi Café and Tapri Central offer vegan-friendly menus with plant-based milks and grain bowls. For a local twist, you can visit more traditional vegetarian restaurants like Rawat Mishthan Bhandar and ask for dishes made in oil instead of ghee. You’d be surprised how willingly chefs adapt once you explain what veganism means, and they often see it as an act of kindness, aligning perfectly with Indian hospitality.
Jodhpur & Jaisalmer: Desert Simplicity
In the Thar Desert, the cuisine is shaped by scarcity and innovation. Here, millet rotis, lentil curries, and raab (a fermented millet drink) dominate. Many of these are naturally dairy-free. In smaller towns, communication can be the biggest hurdle, so a few Hindi phrases like “Doodh nahi, makhan nahi, ghee nahi” (no milk, no butter, no ghee) go a long way.
Udaipur: Lakes, Love, and Conscious Food
Udaipur’s growing tourist culture has brought in a wave of eco-conscious cafés such as Grasswood Café, Millets of Mewar, and Café Namaste, which are some gems where you can enjoy smoothies, tofu curries, and millet pancakes overlooking the lake. This is also the place where you can meet fellow travellers experimenting with plant-based Indian cooking classes.
My tips for a vegan Journey in Rajasthan
Community Efforts and Education
Social media has also played a huge role in spreading awareness. Vegan travel bloggers and local influencers are documenting their experiences and helping both locals and travellers discover vegan-friendly options. Workshops on sustainable cooking and plant-based nutrition are being hosted in urban centres, often attracting young audiences curious about ethical living and mindful diets. A few culinary entrepreneurs are even taking it a step further and launching vegan meal services and cloud kitchens in Jaipur and Udaipur. These ventures are not only catering to vegan travellers but also encouraging locals to experiment with plant-based alternatives.
Looking Ahead
Rajasthan’s relationship with food is evolving. While its culinary traditions remain proudly rooted, the curiosity about mindful eating and sustainability is opening up new possibilities. The direction is promising as the growing interest in sustainable tourism, health-conscious travel, and ethical dining is creating fertile ground for vegan culture to thrive.
From desert villages serving oil-cooked rotis to boutique cafés experimenting with vegan lasagna made from local millets, the change is slow but real. If you ever travel across this golden land as a vegan, you’ll find that kindness is always on the menu. You might just have to ask for it in a different way. The desert state, once known for royal indulgence, is learning to celebrate nourishment in a new form which is kind to animals, people, and the planet.
My Personal Realisation
That single dinner in Delhi made me reflect on how food can bridge worlds. My foreign guest enjoyed the food and showed her happiness, appreciating the care put into the meals. A humble bowl of dal, served without ghee but with warmth, became a symbol of how adaptable and welcoming Indian culture can be.
Credits & Connect
A special thanks to Kavita, who helped with thorough research to prepare this guide. If you’re a vegan planning to travel across Rajasthan and want to explore all the vegan-friendly experiences, meals, and eateries we’ve discovered, feel free to reach out to us at sales@immerseindia.com. We’d be happy to help you plan a truly nourishing journey!
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