Mughal’s Food: If you want to eat like this, from Akbar-Aurangzeb to Salim, these foods make the mouth water, here is the list

Many things including Haleem, Navratna Korma and Murgh Musallam reached every corner of India from the kitchens of the Mughals.

The Mughal period is known not only for prosperity, architecture and warfare but also for delicious cuisine. People eat Biryani with fondness today, it was introduced in India by the Mughals. Not only this, it was the Mughals who brought kebab to India. It was during the Mughal era that the trend of making kebabs in many ways, not just one, started. Like- Seenk, Shikampur and Reshmi Kebab.

Many things including Haleem, Navratna Korma, Murgh Musallam and Mughlai Paratha reached every corner of India from the kitchen of the Mughals. Now the question is, what did everyone from Babar to the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar like to eat?

Babar: Liked fish of India and grapes and melon of Fargana.

When Babar came to India, he was greatly impressed by the variety of food and spices here. He had the habit of eating chicken and meat cooked on wood fire. Babar introduced many cuisines in India. Born in Uzbekistan, Babur loved the food of Fargana and Samarkand and used to order fruits and vegetables from there.

In his autobiography Baburnama, Babur mentions the shortage of melons, grapes and other fruits in his Afghan homeland. It is written in the autobiography, “Ice, cold water, good food, good bread are not available in the markets;” Nevertheless, he liked the fresh and salt water fishes in India very much.

Humayun: Khichdi is my favorite

After losing to Sher Shah Suri, Humayun spent time in Persia and there were many changes in his likes and dislikes. Humayun especially liked Khichdi. Additionally, the Emperor’s Iranian wife Hamida increased the use of saffron and dried fruits in the royal kitchen. He especially liked the things made from it. Humayun also liked sherbet very much. Therefore, fruit flavor was added to the beverages made for the royal family.

Akbar: The emperor liked Murg Musallam-Navratna Korma.

The scope of Mughlai cuisine truly expanded during the reign of Akbar. Due to matrimonial alliances, chefs came from all corners of India and combined their culinary styles with Persian flavors to create a unique style of food. The Mughals included goat meat in their cuisine, which was rarely available in countries like Persia and Afghanistan. Many new dishes emerged from this. Like- Murgh Musallam and Navratan Korma. Akbar liked this. It is claimed that Akbar’s wife Jodha Bai introduced Panchmel dal (also known as Pancharatna dal) into the non-vegetarian Mughal kitchen.

Jahangir: A dish made of wine, curd and rice

Jahangir had a special fondness for food and drink. Many dishes were added to the Mughal Dastarkhan during his reign. The reins of the empire were in the hands of his wife Noorjahan. Being a very influential personality in the royal court, traders coming from Europe often presented him with unique dishes. Noor Jahan, a connoisseur by nature, got inspired by these and prepared many dishes using famous wines, rainbow colored curd and rice. Jahangir especially liked this.

Shahjahan: fond of Yamuna water and mangoes

Shahjahan’s food habits were an extension of the food habits prepared by his ancestors. The emperor loved aromatic spices and drank alcohol in moderation. Shahjahan used to drink only Yamuna water and was very fond of mangoes. They got fresh vegetables and fruits like lemons, pomegranates, plums and melons from the kitchen garden and orchard. He instructed his cooks to add turmeric, cumin and coriander in large quantities to royal dishes because of their medicinal properties.

Aurangzeb: Biryani with chana dal, almond-curd

During the reign of his father Shahjahan, the grandeur of Mughlai cuisine was reduced to some extent by his son Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb, the most religious of the Mughal emperors, loved vegetarian dishes like Panchmel dal. According to Ruqat-e-Alamgiri, a collection of letters written by Aurangzeb to his son, Qubooli – biryani made of rice, chana dal, dried apricots, almonds and curd, was Aurangzeb’s favourite.

Bahadur Shah Zafar: Deer Meat

Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last emperor of the Mughal dynasty, was very fond of deer meat, because he was fond of hunting in his youth. He also liked light food, especially moong dal, which came to be known as ‘Badshah’s favourite’.

Also read: What did Nadir Shah of Iran loot from the Mughals? From Peacock Throne to Kohinoor, here is the list