9 Culninary Origins Of Some Of The Most Common Indian Dishes
For most Indians the dispute over the origins of some rather common foods is something of a daily debate. Here are 10 foods believed to be from India but arent.
For most Indians, the dispute over the origins of some rather common foods is something of a daily debate. Read on about the origins of some our tastiest foods. Here are 10 foods believed to be from India, but aren't:
1. Sambar
Sambar, as a dish, was created in the 18th century. History has it that it originated in the kitchen of Maratha ruler Shahuji.
History has it that Shahuji¡¯s court was preparing food for a guest named Sambhaji. But while making a dal, they ran out of kokum which was kokum, the cooks then concocted their own version with whatever they found in the kitchen.
They had then tuvar dal, vegetables, spices and the tamarind pulp. The court loved the dish so much that they created a whole new supply of tamarind, and named the dish sambhar after their guest, Sambhaji.
2.Biryani
¡®Biryani¡¯ originates from the Persian word ¡®birian¡¯, which means ¡®fried before cooking¡¯. It was the Mughals rulers who introduced Biryani to Indian soldiers as it was considered to be a balanced meal.
3. Chai
Tea has its origins in China and it was used exclusively as a medicinal drink. It's the British who introduced it to India as a drink that can be consumed at any time of the day Yes, it's colonial hangover that you drinking up everyday.
4. Vada Pav
Brace yourself, Portuguese ate pao or pav for breakfast clearly this ain't Indian. And you thought it came from Mumbai!
5. Samosa
Samosa ¨C that heavenly triangular vegetable or meat-filled savoury dish that every Indian swears by has its origins in the Middle East.
Originally called 'sambosa', the Indian samosa was actually introduced to the country sometime between the 13th and 14th century by traders from the Middle East.
Shook? You ought to be!
6. Naan
According to food appreciator and food panel of Masterchef India, Madhulika Dash,Naan came about in India with the introduction of yeast. Yeast originally came from Egypt where it was used to brew beer.
Dash writes that ¡°the first recorded history of Naan found in the notes of the Indo-Persian poet Amir Kushrau, dates this unleavened bread to 1300 AD. Then Naan was cooked at the Imperial Court in Delhi as naan-e-tunuk (light bread) and naan-e-tanuri (cooked in a tandoor oven). During the Mughal era in India from around 1526, Naan accompanied by keema or kebab was a popular breakfast food of the royals¡±
7. Jalebi
A generous dollop of creamy rabdi or glass of milk with crunchy hot jalebis is favourite breakfast meal for people across India. But there's one thing we bet you didn't know, Jalebi did not originate in India, but is a version of west Asian "Zolabiya" or "Zalabiya." In Iran, Zalabiya was a festive treat, which was enjoyed by everybody, especially during the iftaar gatherings of Ramzaan. The dish was brought to India by Persian invaders.
8. Idli
In another hit to your South Indian friend, tell him or her that Idlis, came from far off Indonesia and there are other theories that it arrived with Arab traders who landed in South India. Steamed rice balls is not Indian.
9. Potato
Batata means potato. Batata, like pav, was introduced by Portuguese in western India and by the British in Bengal. And by Moldovian priests in Ladakh. Not Indian, No Sir!
