Indian cuisine is ancient, diverse, and is an amalgamation of different religious influences. Religion and climate are two factors that have significantly impacted the development of cooking styles and food habits in India. The concept of cooking and the food habit changed a lot with the coming of the Christian missionaries. In the 19th century English and Portuguese trader came to India and influenced a lot the Indian style of cooking. Indian Culinary Influences By religion gave scope for difference in culinary. Christian Influence on Indian Cuisine was another major foreign influence. The Christian tradition in India is as old as Christianity itself. The first who got converted to Christianity were in the Southern state of Kerala. In the later periods the Portuguese and British accelerated the growth of Christianity.

Christian Influence on Indian Cuisine introduced the native Indians to various cooking techniques of meat and fish. Food incorporated many local ingredients and cooking techniques with European influences. Indian food reflected European customs and traditions and items such as rum-flavoured cake or sandwiches reflected the authentic eating habit of the Christians. An interesting feature of the Christian eating style is that Christians have no restrictions on the type of meat consumption. European and Portuguese influence thus began many new traditions and customs in India began and stayed there even after the English had left.

Several interesting food were included in the Indian Food habit. Christian Influence on Indian Cuisine in the later period came to be known as Anglo-Indian food. English pork chops, soups and salads became a part of the Indian menu by the British. The Syrian Arab Christians fled to India and took refuge under the king of Kerala. They left a heavy influence in the Indian cuisine. It also explains the prevalence of non-vegetarian food in Keralian dishes. Syrian Christian dishes are richly flavoured and food such as fish, seafood, duck, lamb and chicken dishes are included.

Christian Influence on Indian Cuisine made Indian cuisine a fascinating part. Portuguese influences were found on West Indian cooking in Goa, and French influences on South Indian cooking in Pondicherry. By the time the English had left, there was a notable change in Indian food. Interestingly not only the eating style but the dining manners were also influenced by the Christians. A dining table had replaced the kitchen floor and porcelain dishes replaced the banana leaf as the utensil to eat off of. Kitchen utensils were also modernised. Indian cooks gathered knowledge of many Christian dishes such as cutlets, croquettes, sausages, cakes, puddings, jams, and biscuits. Indian beverages also experienced a change with the coming of the Christians. Wine is one of the most preferred drinks of the Christians. In later years this Christian Influence on Indian Food made the food came to be called as Anglo-Indian food.