
The cuisine of India is rich and is recognised all over the world for its subtle characteristic. Indian culinary is considered to be one of the most diverse cuisines of the world. It is enriched with various influences both by invasions and by religion. These influences have brought about wide assortment of dishes and cooking techniques in the Indian society. Consequently, Indian cuisine varies from region to region and reflects the ethnicity of the country. Influences on Indian Food have brought about an essential change in the concept of food. Indian cuisine has also influenced cuisines across the world.
The religious beliefs of India as well as the culture of the country played an influential role in the evolution of modern cuisine. Influences on Indian Food proves that every bit of India`s diversity has had been improving and changing. Cuisine across India evolved with the cross-cultural interactions among the subcontinents. Thus, flexibility developed in the Indian Culinary. The cooking of India can tell much about the people of the country. It indicates that Indian cuisine is the fusion of various religious beliefs. Religion had shaped the Indian cooking since the commencement of several religions.
Religious Influence on Indian Food introduced the perception of vegetarianism and Non vegetarianism. Hindus followed the cuisine as laid down by the Aryans, whereas with the coming of the Mughals the Muslims started to prepare food according to their techniques. The Muslim tradition is evident in initiate the cooking of Mughlai food, kababs, rich Kormas and nargisi koftas, rogan josh, and preparations from the clay over or tandoor like tandoori rotis and tandoori chicken. The Christians came as missionaries and they added a different flavor to the cooking style of the Indians. Jains are the sect of Hindus but their eating style varied from that of Hindus. Jainism is a religion that believes in non - violence and thus refrained from eating any kind of meat or root vegetables. They consume food that grow on trees and are ripe. Influences on Indian Food augmented the Indian Cuisine.

Thus a number of religions exist in India. There were two major cultures that have contributed to the Indian cooking, that include the Hindu and the Muslim traditions. Each new religion settled in the country and brought with them their own culinary practices. Indian cuisine was a blend of different contribution. In addition to that the Portuguese, the Persians and the British made important contributions to the Indian culinary panorama. Indian cuisine is also augmented by the influence varied religions. India on its journey went through a long history of invasions. These different cultures, that have entered the country created the spectacular palette of foods.
Influences on Indian Food can be traced with the various Indian invasions. Aryans, Mongols, Persians as well as Chinese people invaded India since the ancient times. was the defining factor of Indian cuisine is its creative use of spices. These invasions also had set up specific culinary experiences for different region and in this present moment different regions have distinct cuisines of their own. Moreover in the colonial period European cooking style was introduced to India. It can be rightly put that religion and invasions shaped the Indian Food. Influences on Indian Food include the coming of the Aryans and in this period the cuisine the Great Hindu Empires concentrated on the detailed aspects of food and to understand its essence and how it contributed to the development of mind, body and spirit. Mongolians brought to India the concept of hot pot cooking. Persians were the rulers who introduced elegant dining style and brought with them rich food with dry fruits. The Chinese introduced stir fries to Indian along with sweet taste of food. Portuguese were the initiator of vegetables such as tomatoes, chilli, and potato, which in the later years became the main components Indian cuisine at present.
(Last Updated on : 23/07/2012)