Popular Indian Cuisines That Have Foreign Origin

You read books to feed your brain, but you eat food to feed your soul. We all love our Indian foods and also take pride in them, but did you know the food that you like may have foreign origin? There are certain food items in our diverse cuisines that come from beyond our borders. So let me take you on a short trip and open your eyes to these dishes in our very own Indian cuisines. North Indian Cuisine When you hear the words north Indian cuisine the food items that will pop in your head are Naan, Samosa and Jalebi. But did you know all these food items have foreign origin? Naan: Surprising as it might seem our beloved Naan originally comes from Persia and Iran and brought to India by the Mughals. Back in the days when Mughals invaded India, they brought many things with them and food culture was one of them which slowly mixed with the local tastes. Samosa: Yes the Samosa, the all-time favorite tea time snack was brought to the Indian subcontinent after the invasion of the Central Asian Turkic dynasties. The mention of this food item can be found in a 9th century Persian poem by Ishaq al-Mawsili and also in Arabian recipe books from the 10th century. The item has undergone different changes as it moved to different regions in the Indian subcontinent but the concept remained the same. Jalebi: At this point you might be thinking, “OMG! Now the Jalebi.” Did you know the very word Jalebi is derived from an Arabic word zulabiya, then how can it be of Indian origin? It is believed that the item originated in Turkey, then moved to Tunisia before making its way to India. This sweet dish is not only popular in India but it is loved in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal too. South Indian Cuisine If North India has food with foreign origin, then why not South India? Yes, two of the famous food items in South Indian cuisines, Idli and Parotta have travelled their way to India. Idli: The very famous and popular South Indian breakfast, Idli was brought to India by the Indonasians when they introduced Kedli in order to make the Indians understand what steaming vessels were. This dish was then further modified to form Idli which is very rich in carbohydrates and proteins and will surely make you start the day healthy. Parotta: This layered flatbread came to God's own country, Kerala, by the hands of migrant workers from Sri Lanka. It has been the most common food in Jaffna and later on it became the beloved food item in Kerala, all thanks to the street hawkers from the 90s. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your phone and order in these foods and have a feast. Bon Appetite.