# Origins of North Indian and Pakistani foods

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 | Kannada name | Origin | Likely time of introduction | Notes |
| Bitter Melon | karela | Paavarkai | Kaakara kaaya | Haagalu kaayi | Africa | | |
| Cabbage | Patta Gobhi | Muṭṭaikkōs | Ele koosu | | Possibly European | During colonial times | Derived from Wild Mustard |
| Calabash | Lauki/Pankaj | Curaikkāy | Anapukaya,sorakaya | Sore kaayi | China/Japan | | |
| Cauliflower | Phool Gobhi | | kosu puvvu | Hoo kosu | Cyprus | 1822 CE | |
| Chili pepper | Mirch | Miḷakāy | mirapakaya | Menasina kaayi | Mesoamerica | 1550 CE | india |
| Coriander | Dhaniya | Kottamalli | kotthimeera | Kothamari soppu | North Africa or Mediterranean | 1000 AD by Arabs | Mentioned in ancient Egypt |
| Brinjal | Baingan | Kattirikkāy | vankaya | Badane kaayi | India/China | | |
| Fenugreek | Methi | Ventayam | menthi koora | Menthya | Near East | 326 BC | Alexander's campaign to India |
| Garlic | Lahsoon | Pūṇṭu | Velluli/Elligadda | Belluli | possibly Middle East | Unknown | |
| Lemon | Neembú | Elumiccai | nimmakaya | Nimbe hannu | South China or Northeastern India | 2000-1000 BC | Lemon seeds found in the Harappan Bara culture excavations indicate time of spread |
| Moringa | | Muruṅkai | Munakkaada | Nugge kaayi | India | | |
| Okra | Bhindi | Veṇṭaikkāy | Bendakaaya | Bende kaayi | Highlands of Ethiopia and india | 100-500 CE | |
| Onion | Pyaaz | Veṅkāyam | Ulligadda,ullipaya,erragadda | Eerulli | India | Unknown, but present by 500 BCE | Mentioned in the Charaka Samhita |
| Potato | Aloo | Uruḷaikkiḻaṅku | Bangala Dumpa/Aloo Gadda | Aloo gadde | South America (Peru/Bolivia) | 1600 CE | Likely introduced by Portuguese traders |
| Sweet Potato | Shakarkand | Iṉippu uruḷaikkiḻaṅku | Chilagada dumpa | Sihi genasu | 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 | Goode hannu | Latin America (Mexico to Peru) | 1600 CE | Likely introduced by Portuguese traders |
| Turnip | Shalgham | Ṭarṉip | | Gedde kosu | West Asia or Eastern Europe | 1500 BC | Very early presence in the South Asia |
| Yam | Zimikand/Suran/kachalu/banda | Karunai kizhangu | Kanda | Genasu | 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 | |
| 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 | |