How the Mughals Influenced the Indian Cuisine

!±8± How the Mughals Influenced the Indian Cuisine

Indian cuisine is very rich. There are two types of diets in Indian cuisine, vegetarian and meat eating. Vegetarian diets have been part of Indian diets for a long time. But looking back into the history meat eating was there as well. India has been the cross roads of many people and cultures. So different people have brought their cultural cuisines into Indian cooking or modified the local cuisines. One such culture and cuisine to have a big impact on Indian cuisine was the Muslims from the western Asia in the sixteenth century. The Muslims had a big impact on the Indian life including their palates. The Muslims created what was known as the Mughal cuisine. India was introduced to kebabs and pilaus (rice dishes). Meat was added to rice dishes and pistachios, almonds and raisins were added to dishes. Ending the meal with a sweet dish was introduced, this being of Arabic culture. A lot of the sweet dishes were made from wheat flour, rice, almonds and coconut. They were sweetened with sugar and rosewater.

During the mughal empire especially during the reign of Janghir and Shah Jahan lavish dishes were prepared. The Mughals were experts in this style of cooking. During the reign of mughals many Indians converted to Islam and so changed their diets. The hindus stayed being vegetarians. The hindus also cooked their food differently from the Muslims. While the Muslims ate naans and chapattis (bread made on a griddle) the hindus bread was called puris, which is made from wholewheat flour and ghee and bhaturas which is made from white flour, yeast and oil and deep fried in a wok. Most of theses breads were fried in ghee but ghee was only used by the rich, the poor used mustard oil. If rice was available, pancakes would be made from these called dosas. The Hindus would eat their meals individually while the Muslims would stress on brotherhood and so ate together by laying a fine calico cloth on the floor and all the dishes would be placed. The Muslims would eat with their fingers, and so hands would be washed before and after the meal. The Mughals eating habits are seen continued to this day.