Christian Influence on Indian Cuisine has been marked since the days of the colonial rule in India. The food that has emerged as a result of the impact of Christian influence on Indian cuisine is referred to as "Anglo-Indian Food". Indian cuisine is ancient, diverse and is an amalgamation of different religious influences. The two major factors which have influenced and significantly impacted the growth of different kinds of cooking styles and food habits in India are religion and climate. The idea of cooking and the food habit changed a lot with the coming of the Christian missionaries. This was further influenced by the European settlers who came to trade with and colonise the country in the 19th century.
Impact of Foreign Traders on Indian Cuisine
In the 19th century, English and Portuguese traders came to India, and the advent of European traders permanently changed many aspects of eating habit in the Indian subcontinent. For the Europeans, who came in search of Eastern spices, brought with them the vegetables they had discovered in the New World. The Portuguese introduced new crops like tobacco, potato, cashew, papaya, guava and a host of vegetables. Portuguese influences were found on West Indian cooking in Goa, and French influences on South Indian cooking in Puducherry.
Impact of Christian influence on Indian Cuisine
Christian Influence on Indian Cuisine introduced the native Indians to various cooking techniques. The Indian food now incorporated many local ingredients and cooking techniques with European influences. Indian food reflected European customs and traditions and items such as different flavoured cake or sandwiches reflected the authentic eating habit of the Christians.
The Indian food habits now tended to incorporate various new kinds of tastes and delicacies. The British introduced many new food items to the Indian diet such as soups and salads. The Syrian Arab Christians fled to India and took refuge under the king of Kerala. They too left a rather heavy influence in the field of Indian cuisine. Syrian Christian dishes are richly flavoured.
By the time the English had left, there was a notable change in Indian food. Interestingly it was not only the eating style but even the dining manners of the Indians which 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. Kitchen utensils also became modernised. Indian cooks gathered knowledge of many Christian dishes such as cutlets, croquettes, cakes, puddings, jams and biscuits. Indian beverages also experienced a change with the coming of the Christians.
The Christian influence on Indian food has been rather immense. European and Portuguese influence thus began many new traditions and customs in India and these continued to remain even after the English had left.
