01/01/2018
Foods that we thought are Indian but are of foreign origin.
1. Samosa
Samosa finds its origins in Central Asia and is called sambusak and is filled with minced meat or keema. Only once it got to India did it get the vegetarian potato filling that we relish with much joy with our chai. Or even to cure our hunger pangs temporarily. Even in India, we get samosas by different names and even vary in terms of the outer layer and the fillings.
2. Potatoes
These lovely spuds have come all the way from Mexico. It’s a good thing that they did because we definitely cannot imagine a life without potatoes. We put it in curries, dry veggie dishes, pies, samosas, chaat—you name it and we can find a potato alternative for it!
3. Tea
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Photo Courtesy Of: Pixnio
Love your chai? Well, we hate to break it to you, but tea is not exactly Indian. It was actually brought to India by the English during the British Raj from China. There were large scale tea estates that were planted in Assam, some of which still exist. China may be the original tea producer, but we Indian have the largest tea production.
4. Vindaloo
This super spicy dish was brought to Goa by the Portuguese. This curry based dish is mostly made with pork and usually made by marinating it in wine and garlic. Nowadays, vindaloo is marinated in vinegar, sugar, fresh ginger and spices overnight, then cooked with the addition of more spices. It’s fiery, but certainly not the spiciest dish of the cuisine.
5. Gulab Jamun
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Photo Courtesy Of: Pixabay
It breaks our heart to say this, but gulab jamun is not Indian. It is actually a Mediterranean dish that was accidentally invented by a chef in Shah Jahan’s palace. Even though the origins are Mediterranean, the name is Persian. And now, it is THE thing to have at every celebration.
6. Naan
This is a no-brainer. Along with the Mughals came their food, and we’re forever grateful for how rich it has made our cuisine. Khameeri naan is more popular in Iran than the ones that we order in to have with butter chicken and rogan josh. You can still find it in restaurants and eateries in Old Delhi.
7. Kebabs
Of course, kebabs have their origins in the Middle East. What we get now is a much more evolved version. Kebabs are cooked in tandoors—which are also not Indian, by the way—and come in a variety of flavours, ingredients, shapes, and sizes. They’re originally made of meat, but we Indians have found a way to adapt it to the vegetarian’s preferences too.
8. Coffee
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Photo Courtesy Of: Wikimedia Commons
Coffee finds its roots in tropical Africa, mainly Ethiopia and Sudan. Since it has been exported to many countries over time, it made its way from Yemen to India in 1670. We’ve all grown fond of it and basically can’t function without it.
9. Rajma
While the preparation is North Indian, the kidney bean or rajma is from Mexico. It’s not clear as to when it was brought to India, but it has to be around the same time that potatoes were brought here. In any case, these beans have become a part of every true blue North Indian’s favourite dish.
10. Jalebi
They’re actually from Persia! They refer to it as zalebiya in Persian speaking regions. The Mughals have surely given us some of the most dishes and desserts. Jalebi and rabri or jalebi and poha are classic combinations that one can never go wrong with. These crispy sweet treats are perfect for days when you need a mood uplifter.
Featured Photo Courtesy Of: Pixabay
