10 Desi Dishes Eaten Across The Country But Are Not Indian In Origin
NewsPoint
Gulab Jamun
Did you know that the beloved Indian sweet Gulab Jamun has Persian origins? Derived from "gol" (flower) and "ab" (water), it evolved from the Persian dish "luqmat al qadi," featuring khoya balls soaked in honey syrup and garnished with sugar.
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Filter Coffee
Filter Coffee, known as 'kaaphi' in South India, isn't Indian! It originated in Yemen & was introduced to India by Sufi saint Baba Budan who brought 7 coffee beans from Mocha.
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Daal Bhat
Daal Bhat, a common Indian dish, actually originated in Nepal. Thank our neighbours for introducing this staple meal to Indian dining tables.
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Rajma-Chawal
Rajma-chawal, popular in Punjabi households, isn't Indian, but introduced from Portugal & Mexico. Our version has thick rajma gravy with onions, garlic, tomatoes & spices.
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Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken Tikka Masala, a Punjabi favourite, actually originated in Glasgow, Scotland by chef Ali Ahmed in 1971. An improvisation of dry chicken made on customer's request.
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Samosa
Samosa, popular Indian street food, not originally Indian! Originated in the Middle East as 'sambosa', brought to India by Central Asian traders in the 14th century.
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Vindaloo
Vindaloo, a Goan dish, has Portuguese origins! It comes from 'carne de vinha d'alhos', a Portuguese pork dish marinated in wine & garlic.
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Jalebi
Jalebi, a popular Indian street dessert, actually originated in the Middle East as 'zalabiya/zalibiya'. Now, it's combined with other Indian sweets like Rabdi.
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Naan
Naan, a beloved tandoor item, isn't originally Indian! Its roots trace back to Persians who colonized India. Despite our love for butter naan, garlic naan, stuffed naan, etc., it's not of Indian origin.
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Biryani
Discover the surprising truth about Biryani, a cherished rice-based delicacy. Contrary to popular belief, this beloved dish has Persian origins, derived from the word 'birian' meaning 'fried before cooking'. Though adored in India, Biryani is not native to the country.
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