

If it weren’t for the humble naan, whatever would we do with our butter paneer or chicken tikka masala? While Naan appeared in India fairly early, around the 1300s, it is likely that it existed much before it. Most lunches with friends are incomplete without a mandatory plate of Biryani, and we would not have it otherwise! While it isn’t certain where exactly Biryani was first made, and is theorized to have likely originated in Persia. This is hardly a shocker, but we had to put it here anyway because just how popular Biryani is. Its origin though not yet established is likely to be outside of India. It is typically made by stir frying carrot in ghee along with dry fruits. The best part about winters in India is the unimaginably delicious dessert called Gajar ka halwa, which was introduced during the times of Mughals. Sadly, though, we do not get the credit here. This is not shocking information as most by now know the origin story of Chai, the most preferred Indian beverage. It has been proven that Areca nut, the main constituent of a Paan is not native to South Asia. However, you’ll be surprised to know that the Paan that is chewed so affectionately in India might not have originated here. One of the easiest ways to gauge the efficiency of a government daftar is by examining the Paan stains you’ll find there. Nevertheless, potato isn’t an Indian vegetable. Potato or Aloo as it is called in Hindi is one of the most crucial ingredients today in most Indian food preparations, with the Bengalis even using it in their Biryani. Lychee, the sweet fruit, most Indians cherish during the Summers has its origin in South China, Malaysia and Northern Vietnam. Rajma Chawal is also very popular in Pakistan and Nepal. However, not many know that Rajma, or kidney bean, was in fact brought to South Asia from Mexico. Rajma-chawal is perhaps the favourite dish of most North Indians, and are synonymous with the perfect weekend lunch. Samosa came to India in the 13-14th centuries from the Middle East where it was called sambosa, and has not left us since. Its non-vegetarian versions are equally popular, with beef and lamb samosa being an absolute favourite outside of India. Samosa is easily the most famous Indian snack, with isn’t just enjoyed by people here in India and Pakistan, but also by the Indian diaspora in the rest of the world. Jalebi is usually made by frying a yeast batter and then soaking it in sugar syrup. The word Jalebi is probably derived from zulabiya or zalibiya. We bring you 15 popular Indian foods with foreign origins.Īlso read: 15 Must-Try Indian Street Foods For The Average Globe TrotterĪ favorite for people of all ages, Jalebi, the sweet Indian delicacy, was brought to India in the 15th century from Persia. Much of the food that we eat today, as a result, are from other countries. India was invaded quite a lot of times, and even without the invaders, was part of a large trading network. It is no secret that a lot of the popular food that we consume today came from abroad.
