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Research Paper | History | India | Volume 14 Issue 1, January 2025 | Rating: 5.4 / 10
From Babur to Aurangzeb: Tracing the Development of Mughal Cuisine
Safia Shahzad
Abstract: The Mughal Empire, which ruled India from the early 16th century until the mid - 19th century, contributed significantly to the subcontinent's cultural landscape. Among the many legacies they left behind, one of the most remarkable is their culinary influence. The Mughals, originally from Central Asia, brought with them a rich tradition of Persian and Central Asian cuisine. However, their time in India led to the blending of these influences with local Rajput culinary traditions, creating what we now recognize as Mughal cuisine, which is renowned for its richness, complexity, and use of spices. This paper explores the evolution and development of Mughal cuisine, examining how Persian, Central Asian, and Indian culinary traditions blended during the Mughal Empire. Beginning with Babur?s early encounters with Indian food, the study traces the culinary innovations under key Mughal emperors, including Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb. The paper argues that the Mughals not only embraced and adapted local Indian culinary practices but also created a distinct fusion cuisine that left an enduring legacy on the Indian subcontinent?s food culture.
Keywords: Mughal emperors, cuisine, food, cultural fusion
Edition: Volume 14 Issue 1, January 2025,
Pages: 1292 - 1294