Mughal Influence on Indian Food, Indian Cuisine

The cuisine of India is as vast as its people. Each and every

ethnic group has its own distinctive food preferences along
with their different culture. India has witnessed several
invasions from Arab, Central Asia, the Mughal Empire and
Persia in its early days. These invasions had a great influence
on Indian cooking.
The Muslims from western Asia brought the Mughlai cuisines to India in the 12th century
when Mughal rulers conquered a large portion of India. During the Mughal dynasty,
these dishes were prepared for the Mughal Emperors for elegant dining with dry fruits
and nuts. The hospitality of sharing of food with others in Mughal courtly society helped
India to absorb it as its own while making Indian cuisine to stand apart with pride.

The Mughals brought their rich, aromatic food culture in India and is now an important
part of the Indian culinary culture. Quite ideally therefore, apart from giving the greatest
architectural monuments, the Mughals have also changed the country`s cooking by
merging Middle Eastern cuisine with Indian spices and ingredients to give the most
beautiful Mughlai cuisine.

The Mughal influence on Indian food is immense. Mughlai cuisine is one of the most
richest, popular and lavish cuisines in the country. These are pretty spicy and have unique
fragrance. The cooking method includes lots of milk and cream with exotic spices, nuts
and dried fruits to make it rich and spicy. Biryani, Korma, Palau and Pasendi are some of
the famous Mughlai cuisine.

The Mughal influence on Indian food supported the evolution of Indian food to a great
extent. The Mughlai cuisine full of rich gravies, pilafs and non-vegetarian foods such as
kebabs, along with the fruits like apricots, peaches, plums and melons contoured the
structure of the Indian food while offering it a distinct dimension. Each of the Muslim
rulers offered something or the other to make Indian food the potpourri of spice, taste
tang and flavour. When Babur invaded India he brought his stylish food habits such as
grilled meats along with different varieties of fruits and nuts from Central Asia. His son
Humayun continued this tradition and also introduced a new tradition of rice-based pilaus
and using of fruits and nuts in the meat stews in India. Marriages of Mughal rulers to
several Rajput princesses added a new dimension to the Mughal cuisines.

The reigns of Jahangir and Shah Jahan, marked the evolvement of bountiful dishes in
Indian cuisine. In the mean time, the Nizams of Hyderabad developed Biryani as their
own style of cooking, which is now considered as one of the main dishes in India.

Apart from the introduction of new dishes, the influence of Mughlai cuisine on Indian
food also presented the novel idea of using aromatic spices in cooking. Mughlai food is
quite spicy. The spices used in this preparation are easily accessible. These dishes are
specially preferred in Delhi, Lucknow in the North and Hyderabad in the South. These
have the strong influence of Muslim cooking style along with their Muslim names.
 The saga of Mughlai dish is still continuing. It still remains
as one of the most important part in Indian culinary style.
Although, Mughlai cuisines are available in all parts of the
country, but Delhi is the best place for this royal cuisine. In
this present scenario, the Mughlai influence on Indian food
reflects the local cooking styles in it. The cuisines available
in Delhi and Lucknow are the combination of Indo-Persian style by the addition of
typical North Indian spices like cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric and
ground chilies; whereas in Hyderabad, curry leaves, hot chilies, mustard seeds, tamarind
and coconut milk are added to these cuisines to give them a local flavour.

Due to the flavored sauces and butter based curries in the Mughlai cuisine, they are very
much popular among the food lovers. Mughlai food offers tempting and delicious variety
of food such as kulfi with rose petals sprinkled on it, hot spicy soup and ginger based
roasted meats.

People in India are crazy about Mughlai cuisines. Some of the popular Mughlai dishes
are, Aloo Ka Raita, Carrot and Capsicum Raita, Badaam Halwa, Chicken Korma,
Chaamp Masala or Lamb Chops Curry, Chole or Chane, Kesar Chawal, Chicken Tikka,
Jhinga Malai Curry or Creamy Prawn Curry, Naan a type of Indian Bread, Palak Gosht,
Palak Paneer, Seekh Kebabs, Tandoori Chicken Legs or Grilled Chicken Drumsticks and
the most favourite dish Biryani.