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
- "Domestication of plants in the Old World," Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf, Oxford University Press, 2000.
- "History of Food," Maguelonne Toussaint-Samat, Blackwell Publishing, 1994.
- "Culture and Cuisine: A Journey Through the History of Food," Jean François Revel, Doubleday, 1982.
- "The Agrarian History of England and Wales," Edward John T. Collins, Stuart Piggott, Joan Thirsk, Cambridge University Press, 1981.