![]() History of Wheat Dishes in India The predominance of the wheat dishes in Indian culinary was first observed during the Harappan civilisation. The Harappans of ancient India used to savour the wheat dishes. In the Vedic literature, mention of wheat dishes can be seen. This clearly points out that in the long gone era wheat dishes in the Indian culinary were pretty common. Types of Wheat Dishes in India Literature in Kannada refers to an umpteen number of wheat dishes, common in Indian food. The literature mentions various wheat based food items that could be roasted, baked, steamed or fried. The 'rotis' contain a large number of variation that include and included the 'mucchala', 'kivichu', 'chucchu', 'savudu' and 'uduru rotis', and numerous sweet-stuffed 'mandiges', 'puriges', 'huriges', 'holiges' and 'obattu'. Cream is blended into wheat flour to yield such delicacies as the 'yeriyappa', 'pavuda' and 'chilimuri'. Wheat 'rava' and wheat vermicelli are preferred as the base for many sweet confections of the sweet delicacies such as 'shalianna', 'ghrtapura', 'payasa', 'ladduge', 'pheni', 'chirotti' and the crescent shaped 'karaji kayi'. ![]() Wheat dishes were also famous during the Delhi Sultanate Era. The wheat dishes, served in the Sultanate period included the 'khubi', paratas, 'naan-e-tunuk' which is a light bread and 'naan-e-tanuri' or a 'tandoori rod'. Stuffed wheat 'samosas' boasted even as part of a meal. In the Mughal period that followed there were several items in which wheat was finely ground with spices, like 'harisa', 'halim' and 'kaskh', while the 'samosa' was named as 'qutab'. The wheat flour is boiled with water and washed repeatedly, and is finally transformed as what finally remains is an elastic mass which is presently known to be the protein gluten. This was seasoned in Akbar's kitchen to a product called 'chikhi'. The same elastic residue mixed with fruit juices and cream yielded the drink 'falooda' which is said to be a favourite with Jahangir. Wheat washings are also an ingredient in the chewy Sindhi halwa of present day. Though, wheat dishes had been in the list of Indian dishes, the modern culinary system is still in the process of modifying and inventing new recipes considering the present life style and food habit of multitudes. (Last Updated on : 29-11-2014) |
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