Whose Samosa is it Anyway?: The Story of Where 'Indian' Food Really Came From
Sonal Ved invites readers on a flavourful expedition through centuries of Indian culinary heritage, spanning from the Indus Valley in 1900 bc through the reigns of ancient empires and the Mughal period. The narrative weaves together surprising connections between trade routes, foreign merchants, and the foods we thought were entirely our own. How did chutney really develop? What's the actual story behind ladi pav and kebabs? You'll discover that Burmese khow suey somehow found its way onto Marwari wedding tables, and pepper traders shaped more than just spice commerce. Ved travels from Kashmir's mountains to Kerala's backwaters, from Bengal's ports to Arabia's shores, uncovering how travellers and merchants unknowingly influenced what ended up on our plates. Each recipe carries whispers of cultural exchange, forgotten journeys, and unexpected partnerships. The result is a revelatory look at dishes we assumed were wholly Indian, revealing instead a complex history of borrowing, adaptation, and reinvention. By the final page, you'll understand that food ownership is far messier and considerably more interesting than we imagined.
- Author: Sonal Ved
- Publisher: Penguin
- Genre: Travel Writing & Guides
- ISBN: 978-0143460060
- Pages: 256 pages