Origins of North Indian and Pakistani foods

Most of the food items that define modern North Indian and Pakistani cooking have origins inside the Indian subcontinent though many foods that are now a part of them are based on fruits and vegetables that originated outside the Indian subcontinent.

Vegetable Origins

Vegetable Hindi-Urdu Name Origin Likely time of introduction Notes
Okra Bhindi Highlands of Ethiopia 100-500 CE
Tomato Tamatar Latin America (Mexico to Peru) 1600 CE Likely introduced by Portuguese traders
Potato Aaloo South America (Peru/Bolivia) 1600 CE Likely introduced by Portuguese traders
Taro Arbi / Arwi/ Guhiyaan Unknown (India, Polynesia or SE Asia) Unknown
Bitter Melon Karela Unknown Unknown
Garlic Lehsan Unknown (possibly North Africa) Unknown
Onion Pyaaz Unknown (Central Asia suspected) Unknown
Cauliflower Phool Gobhi Cyprus or Turkey 1500 CE
Cabbage Band/Patta Gobhi Mediterranean Region Derived from Wild Mustard
Eggplant Baingan Native to the South Asia
Turnip Shalgham West Asia or Eastern Europe 1500 BC Very early presence in the South Asia
Yam Zimikand/Suran/kachalu/banda Africa/Asia 7000 BCE Different types of yams by taste, colour, size, skin, acidity
Sweet Potato Shakarkand Latin America 1600 CE) Via Portugal
Calabash Lauki/ghiya India
Fenugreek Methi Middle East (possibly Iraq) Unknown
Coriander Dhania North Africa or Southwest Asia Unknown Mentioned in ancient Egypt
Chili pepper Mirchi New world 1550-1650 CE? Introduced by Portuguese traders

Fruit Origins

Vegetable Hindi-Urdu Name Origin Likely time of introduction Notes
Mango Aam India or SE Asia Unknown
Mulberry Shehtoot/Toot Temperate regions worldwide Unknown
Apple Seb Central Asia (Kazakhstan) Unknown
Plum Aloo Bokhara Unknown (Armenia suspected) Unknown
Orange Malta/Santara Unknown (SE Asia) Unknown A sweeter Indian variety was introduced by the Portuguese in Europe (ca. 15th century)
Tangerine Santara Unknown (North Africa) Unknown

References