Origins of North Indian and Pakistani foods facts for kids
![Potato and cross section](/images/thumb/c/c8/Potato_and_cross_section.jpg/300px-Potato_and_cross_section.jpg)
Potato (Aloo)
![Bright red tomato and cross section02](/images/thumb/8/88/Bright_red_tomato_and_cross_section02.jpg/300px-Bright_red_tomato_and_cross_section02.jpg)
Tomato (Tamatar)
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Okra (Bhindi)
Cauliflower (Phool Gobhi)
![Colocasia esculenta dsc07801](/images/thumb/c/c2/Colocasia_esculenta_dsc07801.jpg/300px-Colocasia_esculenta_dsc07801.jpg)
Taro (Arbi)
Most of the food items which define modern North Indian and Subcontinental 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 name | Tamil name | Telugu name | Origin | Likely time of introduction | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bitter Melon | karela | Paavarkai | Kaakara kaaya | Africa | ||
Cabbage | Patta Gobhi | Muṭṭaikkōs | Possibly European | During colonial times | Derived from Wild Mustard | |
Calabash | Lauki/Pankaj | Curaikkāy | Anapukaya,sorakaya | China/Japan | ||
Cauliflower | Phool Gobhi | kosu puvvu | Cyprus | 1822 CE | ||
Chili pepper | Mirch | Miḷakāy | mirapakaya | Mesoamerica | 1550 CE | india |
Coriander | Dhaniya | Kottamalli | kotthimeera | North Africa or Mediterranean | 1000 AD by Arabs | Mentioned in ancient Egypt |
Brinjal | Baingan | Kattirikkāy | vankaya | India/China | ||
Fenugreek | Methi | Ventayam | menthi koora | Near East | 326 BC | Alexander's campaign to India |
Garlic | Lahsoon | Pūṇṭu | Velluli/Elligadda | possibly Middle East | Unknown | |
Lemon | Neembú | Elumiccai | nimmakaya | South China or Northeastern India | 2000-1000 BC | Lemon seeds found in the Harappan Bara culture excavations indicate time of spread |
Moringa | Muruṅkai | Munakkaada | India | |||
Okra | Bhindi | Veṇṭaikkāy | Bendakaaya | Highlands of Ethiopia and india | 100-500 CE | |
Onion | Pyaaz | Veṅkāyam | Ulligadda,ullipaya,erragadda | India | Unknown, but present by 500 BCE | Mentioned in the Charaka Samhita |
Potato | Aloo | Uruḷaikkiḻaṅku | Bangala Dumpa/Aloo Gadda | South America (Peru/Bolivia) | 1600 CE | Likely introduced by Portuguese traders |
Sweet Potato | Shakarkand | Iṉippu uruḷaikkiḻaṅku | Chilagada dumpa | South America | 1600 CE) | Via Portugal |
Taro | Arbi / Arwi/ Guhiyaan | Seppankizhangu | Chaamadumpa, chaamagadda | Unknown (India, Polynesia or SE Asia) | Unknown | |
Tomato | Tamatar | Takkāḷi | Tamata / rama phalam | Latin America (Mexico to Peru) | 1600 CE | Likely introduced by Portuguese traders |
Turnip | Shalgham | Ṭarṉip | West Asia or Eastern Europe | 1500 BC | Very early presence in the South Asia | |
Yam | Zimikand/Suran/kachalu/banda | Kanda | Africa/Asia | 7000 BCE | Different types of yams by taste, colour, size, skin, acidity |
Fruit origins
Fruit | Hindi Name | Telugu Name | Tamil Name | Origin | Likely time of introduction | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apple | Seb | Āppiḷ | Central Asia (Kazakhstan) | Unknown | A healthy fruit liked by everyone , the fruit which is important for establish the idea for newton to find gravitiy | |
Mango | Aam | Mamidi Pandu | Māṅkaṉi | India | Unknown | Mango is mentioned by Hendrik van Rheede, the Dutch commander of the Malabar region in his 1678 book |
Mulberry | Shehtoot/Toot | Malperi | China/Japan | Unknown | Its white type is toxic whereas red is very sweet | |
Orange | Santara | Kamalapandu | Ārañcu | India | Unknown | A sweeter Indian variety was introduced by the Portuguese in Europe (ca. 15th century) |
Plum | Aloo Bokhara | Piḷam | Armenia | Unknown | ||
Tamarind | Hunase Hannu/ Imli | Chintakaya/Chintapandu | Puḷi | Africa | Unknown | Known for savourish taste, the fruit has mention since Harappan times |
Tangerine | Narangi | Narinja Pandu | Ṭēṅkariṉ | China | Unknown |
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Origins of North Indian and Pakistani foods Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.