

Indians, on the other hand, were not used to kababs and pilafs but exposed the Mughals to lentils cooked as a soup (daal) rather than the dry lentil salads of their homeland. The Mongols, especially, given their nomadic roots and the arid landscape of their homeland, were used to quick grilled meats and food cooked with very little water. The Islamic invasions of India brought in food influences from Turkey, Afghanistan and Central Asia that changed the food culture of the country. Although it is known that Vedic Indians cooked meat, since animal sacrifice and grilling were common among Hindu kings, this was not the kind of food eaten by everyday Indians before the Muslims came. This non-vegetarian dish, sometimes known as Mutton Dalcha, is a fusion of Hindu and Muslim cuisines.

In colloquial Telugu, “pappu sudi” is a term used humourously to refer to someone as a simpleton or “one who does not know beyond his pappu,” to be precise.Īndhra is known for its spicy cuisine but this tomato and lentil dish is restrained, although far from dull. A homely meal in this state is never complete without a portion of pappu, be it plain cooked lentils straight out of the pressure cooker or a more elaborate preparation. Pappu, meaning ‘cooked lentils,’ has a very special place in Andhra cuisine. Roasted cumin and dry chilli powder are essential seasonings. The traditional recipe calls for raw banana and raw papaya as well but these may be hard to find in city supermarkets. This soup-like dish, which combines toor daal with vegetables like pumpkin, eggplant, potatoes and tomatoes, is a great accompaniment to rice. Dalma, Orissaĭalma is simple, no fuss food found in Odiya homes. Try this recipe for Rajasthani Panchmel Daal. The five daals – toor, masoor, moong, chana, and urad – that make up panchmel. India currently has over 9 different varieties of Panchmel daal. It was often demanded by Aurangzeb who, being a strict vegetarian, fancied the dish more than the roast meat dishes that found favour with his brothers. The dish was such a big hit with Mughal royalty that by the time Shah Jehan took over the throne the court had its own Shahi Panchmel Daal recipe.

Folklore in East India credits Bhim with coming up with this dish while hiding out as a cook in King Virat’s kitchen.īy the medieval ages, this daal was popular in the Mewar gharana of Rajasthan and Jodhabai is credited with introducing it to Mughal chefs after she married Akbar. The use of five different lentils aside, what gives panchmel daal a nice smokey flavour is the tempering of spices in ghee. When did this tomato-less yet flavourful melange of five different lentils make an appearance on the Indian culinary scene? Apparently, the first mention of this daal is made in the Mahabharata - Kunti and Draupadi prepared it to fulfill the nutrition needs of the Pandavas during their years of exile.
