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Created on Aug 1, 1997; last modified Oct 06, 2002.

The Vocabulary of Indian Food

Some common words related to food in Hindi (and several of the other North Indian languages) are translated here. A similar table, or a link, for food related words in the South Indian languages would be welcome. Remind me of any word I've forgotten to put down. See also a list at Aston. Thanks to Elise Aymer and Sudha Ahuja for adding to this list.

A
AaduPeach
AamMango
AamchurDried mango powder
AcharPickles
AdrakGinger
AjmudCelery seed
AjwainOregano (also Bishop's weed)
AkhrotWalnuts
AlooPotato
AmlaIndian gooseberry
AmrudGuava
Amsool/kokamFruit indigenous to the west coast: Garcinia Indica. (news)
AnanasPineapple
AnarPomegranate
AnardanaPomegranate seeds
Anasphal/Dagad phoolStar anise
AndaEgg
AngoorGrapes
AnjeerFigs
ArbiColocasia plant, elephant ear
ArharPigeon-peas (so arhar dal, same as toor/tuvar dal)
AttaWhole corn flour (see also maida)
Attar/ittar/ruhgeneric term for essence
B
BadamAlmonds
Baigan/baingan/brinjalAubergine, eggplant
Bajra/BajriMillet
Bandh gobhiCabbage (see also Phool gobhi and gobhi)
BesanChick pea flour
BhajeeVegetable
BhejaBrain
BhindiOkra (Lady's fingers)
Brinjal/baigan/bainganAubergine, Egg Plant
C
ChakotraGrapefruits
ChanaChick peas, gram (see also Kabuli chana)
Chana dalSplit chick peas
Chatni/chutneySavoury or sweet sauces used to accompany meals
ChawalRice (generic)
Chickoo/chikooSapodilla
Chowli/lobiaBlack-eyed beans
Chhaas/ChhaachButtermilk
ChhilkaRind (generic)
Chini/shakkarSugar (but kabab chini is different)
ChuaraDates
Chulai ka sagAmaranth (see generic sag)
Chutney/chatniSavoury or sweet sauces used to accompany meals
D
Dagad phool/AnasphalStar anise
DahiYoghurt
Dal/dhalPulses (generic, so moong dal, chana dal etc)
Dalia/lapsiCracked wheat
Dalchini/DarchiniCinnamon (see also Jungli dalchini)
DhaniaCoriander
DoodhMilk
E
Elaichi/ilaichiCardamom
G
GajarCarrot
Garam Masalaa blend of cumin, pepper, cloves and cardamom
GehunWheat (so gehun ka atta)
GheeClarified butter (without milk solids)
Ghia/laukiA variety of north Indian gourd
Gobhi/gobiCabbage or cauliflower (see also Bandh gobhi and Phool gobhi)
GoshtMeat (generic; specific meats are called after the animal)
GulabRose
Gulab jalRose water
GurJaggery (raw cane sugar)
GurdaKidney
H
HaldiTurmeric
Halwaany of several puddingy sweets (gajar halwa, rawa halwa etc)
Halyan/shatwar/soot mooliAsparagus
Hara dhaniaCoriander leaves (see also dhania)
Hara piazSpring onion (see also piaz/pyaz)
HeengAsafoetida
I
Ilaichi/elaichiCardamom
ImliTamarind
Ittar/attar/ruhgeneric term for essence
J
JaeeOats
Jaiphal/zaiphalNutmeg
JauBarley
JavitriMace
JeeraCumin (see also siya jeera)
JowarBarley
Jungli dalchiniCassia (see also Dalchini)
K
KababAny of a variety of meatballs made of keema
Kabab chiniAllspice (but chini is different)
Kabuli chanaWhite gram (see also chana)
KadduPumpkin (see also lauki, ghia)
KajuCashew nuts
KakariCucumber
Kala namakrock salt
KalejaLiver
Kali mirchPepper
KalonjiNigella (also called onion seed)
KamrakhStarfruit, carambola
Karhai/KaraiA hemispherical frying pan, used for deep frying
KathalJackfruit
Katorismall metal bowls
Keema/kheemaMinced meat (usually mutton)
KelaBanana
Kesar/kesari/zafranSaffron (stigma of the crocus flower)
Keora/kewraScrewpine
KhajurDates
KharbujaMelon (see also tarbooz)
Khas khas/khus khusPoppy seeds
KhattaSour
Kheema/keemaMinced meat (usually mutton)
KheerA milk pudding
KheeraCucumber
Khopra/NariyalCoconut
Khubani/zardaluApricots
Khurasani ajvayaynHenbane (? also called kaarala?)
KismisRaisins (see also munakka)
KoftaMeatballs or vegetables shaped into a ball before cooking
Kokam/amsoolFruit indigenous to the west coast: Garcinia Indica. (news)
KokumSee kokam above
Korma/khormatechnique where meat is cooked in a little water, yoghurt, ghee or oil with garam masala
KulfiIcecream
KumbhiMushroom
L
Laddoogeneric dry sweet made into balls
LahsunGarlic
Lal mirchRed chilis (see also Mirch)
Lapsi/daliaCracked wheat
Lauki/ghiaA variety of north Indian gourd
Lavang/laungCloves
Lobia/chowliBlack-eyed beans
M
Machhli/machchhiFish (generic)
MadhuHoney
MaidaFlour
MakaiCorn
MalaiCream
Makhan/MakkhanButter
Masoor (dal)Red lentils
MasalaSpices (generic)
MatarPeas
MethiFenugreek
MewaDried fruits
Mirch/MirchiChilis (so lal mirch means red chilis)
MooliRadish
MoongMung beans
MoongphaliGround nuts
MunakkaSultanas or large raisins (also bara kismis; see kismis)
Murg/murgiChicken
N
Nagkesar/NagkesharCobra saffron (CAUTION)
Namak/nimakSalt (see also Kala namak)
Nariyal/khopraCoconut
NimbuLemon
P
PalakSpinach (also sag)
PaneerCottage cheese, fromage blanc
PaparPapadom
PapitaPapaya
ParathaLayered fried bread, somtimes stuffed such as aloo paratha
Pauwa/pohaRice flakes
Phool GobhiCauliflower (see also Bandh gobhi and gobhi)
PuriFried bread
Piaz/pyazOnions
PistaPistachio
Poha/pauwaRice flakes
PudinaMint
R
RaaiMustard seeds (see also sarson)
RaanLeg of mutton
RabriSweetened clotted milk
RajmaRed Kidney beans
RaitaYoghurt mixed with salads, nuts or other garnish, used as an accompaniment to meals
Ratan joghA bark-like condiment used for colouring Kashmiri dishes like Roghan Josh
Rawa/soojiSemolina
RotiBread (generic) could include phulkas, naan, etc.
Ruh/attar/ittargeneric term for essence
S
SabudanaSago
Sabzi/SabjiVegetable (generic)
SagGreens (generic, so sarson ka sag etc)
Sanjana/sejan ki phaliDrumsticks
SarsonMustard (so also sarson ka tel; see also raai)
SaunfFennel (see also Vilayati saunf)
SeekhSkewer (so seekh kabab)
Sejan ki phali/sanjanaDrumsticks
Semiya/seviyanVermicelli
SevApple
ShakahariVegetarian
ShakarkandSweet potatoes
Shakkar/chiniSugar
ShalgamTurnip
SharbatGeneric name for drink made with syrups and water
Sharifa/sitafalCustard apple
Shatwar/soot mooli/halyanAsparagus
ShorbaSoup, gravy
Simla mirchCapsicum, bell peppers
SingharaWater chestnuts
SirkaVinegar
Sitafal/sharifaCustard apple
Siya jeeraCaraway (see also jeera)
SonthDried ginger
Sooji/rawaSemolina
Soot mooli/shatwar/halyanAsparagus
Siriphal/BaelStone apple
SuwaDill
T
TamatarTomato
TandoorAn oven of baked mud, from north India (so tandoori roti, tandoori murg)
TarboozWater melon (see also kharbuja)
TawaGriddle
Tej Patta Bay leaf
TelOil (generic, so sarson ka tel, moongphali ka tel etc.)
TilSesame
ThandaiCold milk drink
Toor/tuvarPigeon-peas (so toor dal, same as arhar dal)
U
Uradblack gram (so urad dal)
V
Vilayati saunfAniseed (see also saunf)
Z
Zafran/kesar/kesariSaffron (stigma of the crocus flower)
Zaiphal/jaiphalNutmeg
Zardalu/khubaniApricots