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Most of the food items which define modernNorth Indian and Subcontinentalcooking have origins inside theIndian subcontinent though many foods that are now a part of them are based on fruits and vegetables that originated outside the Indian subcontinent.
| Vegetable | Hindi name | Tamil name | Telugu name | Kannada name | Origin | Likely time of introduction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitter Melon | karela | Paavarkai | Kaakara kaaya | Hāgalakāyi | Africa[1] | ||
| Cabbage | Patta Gobhi | Muṭṭaikkōs | Ele koosu | Elekōsu | Possibly European | During colonial times[2] | Derived from Wild Mustard |
| Calabash | Lauki/Pankaj | Curaikkāy | Anapukaya,sorakaya | Sore kaayi | China/Japan[3] | ||
| Cauliflower | Phool Gobhi | kosu puvvu | Hoo kosu | Cyprus[4][5] | 1822 CE[6] | ||
| Chili pepper | Mirch | Miḷakāy | mirapakaya | Menasina kaayi | Mesoamerica[7] | 1550 CE[7] | india |
| Coriander | Dhaniya | Kottamalli | kotthimeera | Kottambari soppu | North Africa[8] or Mediterranean | 1000 AD[9] by Arabs | Mentioned in ancient Egypt |
| Brinjal | Baingan | Kattirikkāy | vankaya | Badane kaayi | India/China[10] | ||
| Fenugreek | Methi | Ventayam | menthi koora | Menthya | Near East[11] | 326 BC[12] | Alexander's campaign to India |
| Garlic | Lahsoon | Pūṇṭu | Velluli/Elligadda | Belluli | possibly Middle East[13] | Unknown | |
| Lemon | Neembú | Elumiccai | nimmakaya | Nimbe hannu | South China or Northeastern India[14] | 2000-1000 BC[14] | Lemon seeds found in the HarappanBara culture excavations indicate time of spread[14] |
| Moringa | Muruṅkai | Munakkaada | Nugge kaayi | India | |||
| Okra | Bhindi | Veṇṭaikkāy | Bendakaaya | Bende kaayi | Highlands of Ethiopia and india[15] | 100-500CE[15] | |
| Onion | Pyaaz | Veṅkāyam | Ulligadda,ullipaya,erragadda | Eerulli | India[citation needed] | Unknown, but present by 500 BCE[16] | Mentioned in theCharaka Samhita |
| Potato | Aloo | Uruḷaikkiḻaṅku | Bangala Dumpa/Aloo Gadda | Aloo gadde | South America (Peru/Bolivia)[17] | 1600 CE | Likely introduced by Portuguese traders |
| Sweet Potato | Shakarkand | Iṉippu uruḷaikkiḻaṅku | Chilagada dumpa | Sihi genasu | South America[18] | 1600 CE) | Via Portugal |
| Taro | Arbi / Arwi/ Guhiyaan | Seppankizhangu | Chaamadumpa, chaamagadda | Kesuvina Gadde/ Kesuvina Soppu | India, Polynesia or SE Asia | ||
| Tomato | Tamatar | Takkāḷi | Tamata / rama phalam | Goode hannu | Latin America (Mexico to Peru)[19] | 1600 CE | Likely introduced by Portuguese traders |
| Turnip | Shalgham | Ṭarṉip | Gedde kosu | West Asia or Eastern Europe[citation needed] | 1500 BC | Very early presence in theSouth Asia | |
| Yam | Zimikand/Suran/kachalu/banda | Karunai kizhangu | Kanda | Suvarna Gadde | Africa/Asia[citation needed] | 7000 BCE | Different types of yams by taste, colour, size, skin, acidity |
| Fruit | Hindi Name | Telugu Name | Tamil Name | Origin | Likely time of introduction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Seb | Āppiḷ | Central Asia (Kazakhstan)[20] | Unknown | ||
| Mango | Aam | Mamidi Pandu | Māṅkaṉi | India | Unknown | Mango is mentioned by Hendrik van Rheede, the Dutch commander of the Malabar region in his 1678 book |
| Mulberry | Shehtoot/Toot | Malperi | China/Japan | Unknown | Its white type is toxic whereas red is very sweet | |
| Orange | Santara[citation needed] | Kamalapandu | Ārañcu | India | Unknown | A sweeter Indian variety was introduced by the Portuguese in Europe (ca. 15th century) |
| Plum | Aloo Bokhara | Piḷam | Armenia | Unknown | ||
| Tamarind | Hunase Hannu/ Imli | Chintakaya/Chintapandu | Puḷi | Africa | Unknown | Known for savourish taste, the fruit has mention since Harappan times |
| Tangerine | Narangi | Narinja Pandu | Ṭēṅkariṉ | China | Unknown |
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