Episode 5

Rick Stein arrives in the royal state of Rajasthan, the land of the kings. The majority of Rajasthanis are serious meat eaters with dishes like junglee maas, a perfect combination of meat, chillies and spices, easily accessible on game hunts - the favourite pastime of both the Rajputs and Moghuls.

This is a land of palaces and hilltop forts, mostly desert and very different from the state of Himachal Pradesh, nestled on the foothills of the western Himalayas and believed, at one time, to be the abode of the gods. Due to its mountainous terrain the locals tend to enjoy a diet of wild herbs, rice and dried pulses - foods that can easily be preserved. Rick joins local nobility as they host a gathering in their home village and attains an audience with the Dalai Lama. He cooks a biryani fit for a Rajput banquet and Rajma, a traditional bean dish from Himachal.