Haleem, Murgh Musallam… what all came out of the Mughal kitchen that became famous all over the world?

The world is enamored with Indian cuisine. When it comes to the Mughals, royal style and cuisine come to mind. When the Mughals arrived in India, they brought with them not only their culture but also their cuisine. 

Since the Mughals had connections with regions ranging from Central Asia to Persia, the blend of these cuisines became known as Mughal cuisine. Let's explore the culinary offerings from the Mughals' royal kitchens that became famous worldwide.

Babur laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire in India by defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the Battle of Panipat in 1526 AD. With the beginning of Mughal rule, their cuisine also began to flourish in the royal kitchens. Biryani was one of the most popular dishes.

Flavorful Biryani

Biryani, which is enjoyed with great relish around the world today, was introduced to India at least by the Mughals. Biryani is a spicy rice dish cooked with meat, seafood, and vegetables. 

Biryani typically uses basmati rice, along with spices like mace, nutmeg, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, bay leaves, coriander, ginger, garlic, and onion. Traditionally, it is cooked in pure ghee. It is served with yogurt, chutney, raita, korma, curry, boiled eggs, and salad.

Biryani

Now, different flavors of biryani are available in different parts of India. The cooking methods vary in these regions, giving them regional distinctions. For example, Hyderabadi biryani, Kolkata biryani, Delhi biryani, Sindhi biryani, and Malabar biryani. A vegetarian version of biryani is called tahari.

What to say about kebabs

The Mughals also brought kebabs with them. Small pieces of meat are strung on a thread and grilled to form kebabs. Mughal rulers brought with them not just one or two, but numerous kebab recipes. Among these, seekh kebab, shikampur kebab, and reshmi kebab are quite famous. These are cooked with a variety of ingredients.

Haleem or Khichdi

Haleem, also known as Khichdi in India, is a Mughal creation. Originally a popular dish from Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, and northern Iraq, it is now popular in Hyderabad, Telangana, Aurangabad, and several other cities in Maharashtra. It is prepared from wheat, lentils, barley, various spices, and minced meat. It takes seven to eight hours to cook.

A thick gravy prepared by cooking with similar spices is called curry. This was also brought by the Mughals. It is used in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Chicken curry and egg curry are quite famous. Many different curry recipes are also a gift from the Mughals.

Navratna Korma and Murgh Musallam

Navratan Korma, a Mughal creation, is a dish that can be prepared both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. It is cooked with nine different ingredients. It is essentially a delicious curry dish, combining a variety of nuts, vegetables, fruits, cream, and aromatic spices. Another Mughal favorite is Murgh Musallam.

It consists of a whole chicken stuffed with spices like eggs, tomatoes, onions, ginger, saffron, cinnamon, poppy seeds, cloves, chilies, and cardamom. Dishes like Mutton Pasand and Rogan Josh are also Mughal creations.

Roti and Mughlai Paratha

Who would believe that the Mughals brought with them the roti made in every household? Typically, roti, made from wheat flour and cooked on a griddle, is served with vegetables. 

Similarly, the Mughlai paratha is also much talked about. In fact, the Mughlai paratha is a delicious and soft fried flatbread. It is prepared by stuffing wheat flour with minced meat, egg, onion, green chilies, and black pepper, among other ingredients. In Bengal, the most popular street food today is the Mughlai paratha.

Sorbet and ice cream

Whether it's the summer-quenching sherbet or children's favorite ice cream, both are Mughal contributions. Sherbet is made by mixing fruit juice, sugar, and water. The Mughals brought with them numerous recipes for making sherbet. 

Rose, saffron, and a variety of flavors are used in sherbet. Similarly, ice cream, made by mixing milk and sugar with various flavors and dried fruits, is loved by everyone, from children to adults. The Mughals introduced us to the taste of ice cream, one of the most beloved and popular desserts.

Sweets

The Mughals also brought with them a variety of sweets. One popular sweet is Gulab Jamun. It is made from milk, khoa and mawa, fried in ghee, and then dipped in sugar syrup. 

Furthermore, the Mughals also used paan, which is eaten in various ways today, as a sweet. It was consumed as a digestive after meals. Sweets like Sheer Khurma and Shahi Tukda are also Mughal contributions.