What strikes a visitor in a typical Haryana village is the lack of restaurants. Many of such rural hamlets may even lack a tea stall, which reveals the general aversion of Haryanvis to hotel food.
The people of Haryana are noted for their preference for home-made delicacies. Though Haryana is among the richest states of India, the residents there are known for their simple tastes in clothing and food.
The local dishes of Haryana lack the grandeur of the Hyderabadi of Lucknowi cuisines. Most of the people in the state choose to prepare items from the vegetables and other crops they can grow on their own premises.
Residents of Haryana are blessed with availability of plenty of land and they grow crops separately for livelihood and for self-consumption. Crops like barley, rice, wheat, and maize are among the common produce of the state, which is also well-known for its high quality milk products.
Haryanvis prefer vegetarian food and use 'nooni' and 'tindi' ghee in plenty for their preparations. Their bajra roti made with ghee is much popular.
Haryana dishes have much similarity with Punjabi and Rajasthani food items. People of Haryana love Punjabi delicacies like 'kadhi,' 'rajma,' and mixed dal and Rajasthani dishes like 'ker sangri' and 'kachri.'
'Lassi' is another very popular item among the Haryana people.
Common folk prefer roti and potato curry for daily meals. They cook rice dishes only once a week. When the mercury rises significantly during summer, people prepare tomato juice.
The most popular dessert in Haryana is the sweet 'gulgul,' which is soaked in sugar syrup.