Ajmer. If you are planning to visit Pushkar this winter, then there is one thing you must try amidst the preparations for the Brahma Temple, the sacred lake and the camel fair. That is hot, crispy and juicy Israeli falafel. Today Pushkar is not only famous for its pilgrimage site or hippie culture, but the falafel found in the narrow streets here has won the hearts of tourists from India and abroad. Be it foreign or domestic travelers, no one returns from Pushkar without eating falafel.
Falafel is a traditional street food originally from the Middle East and Israel. It is made by soaking white gram or fava beans overnight and grinding them with green coriander, garlic, cumin, coriander powder and fresh herbs. Then small round balls are made and deep fried in hot oil. These balls, which are crispy on the outside and soft and spongy on the inside, are then inserted into hot pita bread. Tahini sauce (sesame sauce), hummus, cucumber-tomato-onion-cabbage salad, pickled chillies and lemon juice are added on top. You will get amazing taste in every bite of it.
Price remains between Rs 150 to Rs 200
The specialty of Pushkar is that most of the falafel stalls here are run by Indian or local youth who have been living in Israel for a long time, who prepare it in the real Tel-Aviv style. There are dozens of small and big cafes and stalls in the streets near Sadar Bazaar, Main Bazaar and Brahma Temple, where the aroma of falafel spreads from 10 am to 11 pm. Talking about the price, it is very pocket friendly. A normal falafel wrap or plate is available for Rs 150-170, while a special fully-loaded one goes for Rs 180-200. Shopkeeper Pankaj says that the Rs 200 falafel is so big and plentiful that two people can share it comfortably.
Falafel has become the signature dish of Pushkar.
Pankaj told that we add extra hummus, French fries, beetroot salad and special hot sauce to it. There is no better combination than ginger tea or coffee with hot falafel in winter. When you stroll on the ghats of Pushkar amid the cold breeze in winter, eating a falafel in your hand is a different pleasure. Foreign tourists call it the “signature dish of Pushkar”. Many cafes are now serving vegetarian Shawarma, Sabich and Shakshuka, but Falafel still remains number-one. So come to Pushkar this winter, visit Brahma Ji and enjoy this amazing street food of Israel. A trip to Pushkar would be considered incomplete without eating falafel.
