South Asian cuisine encompasses a delectable variety of sub-cuisines and cooking styles that vary very widely, reflecting the diversity of the Indian subcontinent, even though there is a certain centrality to the general ingredients used. Terms used the recipes of varied Indian and other South Asian sub-cuisines sometimes tend to be multi-lingual and region-specific, mostly based on the author's specific sub-ethnicity, the popularity of a given vegetable/spice in a given sub-cuisine within South Asia, etc.
Indian cuisine is overwhelmingly vegetarian friendly and employs a variety of different fruits, vegetables, grains, and spices which vary in name from region to region within the country. Most Indian restaurants serve predominantly Punjabi/North Indian cuisine, while a limited few serve a very limited choice of some South Indian dishes like Dosa. But for the connoisseurs, India offers a complex and eclectic array of sub-cuisines to explore, which are equally vegetarian friendly and a delight to the taste buds.
Even for South Asian people, this wide variety of vegetables, fruits, grains and spices used in various Indian sub-cuisines can be mind-boggling because of the variety of region-specific names used for identifying the food items. Indian vegetable markets and grocery stores get their wholesale supplies from suppliers belonging to various regions/ethnicities from all over India and elsewhere, and the food suppliers/packagers mostly use sub-ethnic, region-specific item/ingredient names on the respective signs/labels used to identify specific vegetables, fruits, grains and spices based on their respective regions of origin. This further aggravates the confusion in identifying specific items/ingredients, especially for international consumers/expatriates looking to procure vegetables, fruits, grains and spices specific to Indian sub-cuisines.
This article attempts to centralize, compile and tabulate the various vegetables, fruits, grains and spices that are commonly employed in various South Asian sub-cuisines to help reduce this confusion in identifying and procuring various South Asian food ingredients, especially in the cross-regional, international markets/contexts.
The following is a list of common South Asian ingredients, as well as their names in various local languages spoken.
Pulses and dry legumes
+ Pulse names by various Indian and Sri Lankan languagesHindi English Botanical name Assamese Bengali Gujarati Kannada Malayalam Marathi Oriya Punjabi Sinhala Tamil Telugu TuluUrdu KonkaniMeiteiNepaliMaithiliRajasthani दाल (Dāl) Pulses/ Split beans / bean দাইল(Dāil) ডাল(Ḍāl) દાળ(Dāḷ) (Bēḷe) പരിപ്പ് (Parippu) डाळḌāḷ ଡାଲି(Ḍāli) ਦਾਲ(Dāl) පරිප්පු (Parippu) பருப்பு (Paruppu) పప్పు (Pappu) ಸಾಲೈ (Salāyi) دال (Dăl) डाळ (Ḍāḷ) ꯍꯋꯥꯏ (Hawāi) दाल (Dāl) দালি (Dāil) दाळ/द्विदळ (Dāḷ/Dvidaḷ) तुअर/अरहर दाल (Tuar/Arhar Dāl) Pigeon Pea / Yellow Split Gram Cajanus cajan ৰহৰ দাইল(Rôhôr Dāil) অড়হর ডাল(Arhôr Ḍāl) તુવેર દાળ (Tuver Dāḷ) ತೊಗರಿ ಬೇಳೆ (Togari Beḷe) തുവര/സാമ്പര പരിപ്പ് (Thuvara/Sambhar Parippu) तूर डाळ(Tūr Ḍāḷ) ହରଡ଼ ଡାଲି(Håråṛå Ḍāli) ਅਰਹਰ ਦਾਲ (Arhar Dāl) තෝර පරිප්පු (Thora Parippu) துவரம் பருப்பு (Thuvaram Paruppu) కంది పప్పు (Kandi Pappu) ತೋಗಾರಿ ಸಾಲೈ (Tōgari Salāyi) ارہر (Arhar) तोरी डाळ (Tori Ḍāḷ) ꯍꯋꯥꯏ ꯀꯪꯇꯥꯛ (Hawāi Kangtak) रहर दाल (Rahar Dāl) ৰাহাৰি দালি(Rāhèr Dāil) अरड़/अड़द दाळ (Araṛ/Aṛad Dāḷ) काबुली चना (Kābuli Chanā)/छोले (Chhole) Garbanzo Beans/ Chickpea Cicer arietinum কাবুলি বুট(Kābuli But) কাবুলি ছোলা/কাবুলি চানা/কাবুলি বুট( Kābuli Chholā/ Kābuli Chānā/ Kābuli Buṭ) કાબુલી ચણા(Kābuli Chaṇā)છોલે ચણા(Chhole Chaṇā) (Kaḍale Kāḷu) വെള്ള കടല (Veḷḷa Kaḍala) काबुली चणे(Kābuli Chaṇe) ଧଳା/କଳା କାବୁଲିଆ ଚଣା(Dhåḷā/Kåḷā Kābuliyā Chåṇā) ਸਫੈਦ ਛੋਲੇ/ਚਣੇ (Safaid Chhole/Chaṇe) කඩල (Kaḍala) கொண்டை கடலை / வெள்ளை கடலை (Konḍai Kaḍalai/ Veḷḷai Kaḍalai) బుద్దా సెసగలు/సనగలు (Budda Senagalu /Sanagalu) ಬೊಲ್ದು ಕಡ್ಲೆ (Boldu Kaḍle) (Kabli chana) كابلي چنا चणे(Tsaṇe/Chaṇe) ꯍꯋꯥꯏ ꯀꯪꯘꯧ/ꯆꯅꯥ ꯀꯪꯘꯧ (Hawāi Kanghou/Chanā Kanghou) काबुली चना (Kābuli Chanā) কাবুলী চনা (Kābuli Chanā) काबली चणां (Kābli Chaṇā̃)चना (Chanā) Cicer arietinum ছোলা(Chholā) ચણા (Chaṇā) ಕಡಲೆ (Kaḍale) കടല (Kaḍala) हरभरा (Harbharā) ଭୁୁଟ/ବୁଟ (Bhuṭå/Buṭå) ਛੋਲੇ (Choleh) கடலை (Kaḍalai) సెనగలు/సనగలు (Senagalu/Sanagalu) Kaḍle (ಕಡ್ಲೆ) چنا चना (Chanā) বূট (Būṭ) चणां (Chaṇā̃) कुलथी (Kulthi) Horse gram Macrotyloma uniflorum কুুলথি কলাই (Kulthi Kalāi) কুলথি ডাল(Kulthi Ḍāl) કળથી ડાળ(Kaḷthi Dāḷ) (Huraḷi Beḷe) മുതിര പരിപ്പ് (Muthira Parippu) कुळीथ/हुलगे डाळ (Kuḷith/Hulge Ḍāḷ) କୋଳଥ ଡାଲି (Koḷåthå Ḍāli) ਕੁਲਥੀ/ਕਲਥੀ ਦੀ ਦਾਲ (Kulthi/Kalthi di Dal) කොල්ලු (Kollu) கொள்ளு பருப்பு (Koḷḷu Paruppu) ఉలవలు పప్పు (Ulavalu Pappu) ಕುದು ಸಾಲೈ (Kudu Sālayi) (Kulit) कुळीथ डाळ (Kuḷith Ḍāḷ) गहतको दाल (Gahatko Dāl) কুৰ্থি দালি (Kurthi Dāil) कुळथी दाळ (Kuḷthi Dāḷ) लोबिया (Lobiā) Black-eyed pea Vigna unguiculata লুবিয়া(Lubiā) লোবিয়া/বরবটি কলাই (Lobiā/Borboti Kolāi) સફેદ છોલા (Safed Cholā) (Alasande) കരമണി/പയര് (Karamaṇi/ Pairu) चवळी(Chawḷi) ନାଦୁୁକ(Nādukå) ਰੋਁਗੀ (Rongi) කවුපි (Kawupi) காராமணி பயறு /தட்டாம் பயறு (Karamaṇi Payaru/Thaṭṭam Payaru) అలచందలు (Alachandalu) ಲತಂದೆ/ಲತ್ತಣೆ ಬಿತ್ತ್ (Lathandè/lathaṇe Bitt) Lobia لوبیا अलसंदे (Alsande) ꯍꯋꯥꯏꯖꯥꯔ ꯃꯥꯔꯨ (Hawaijar Maru) लोबिया (Lobiā) বোৰা (Borā) चंवळो (Chãvḷo) मसूर (Masūr) Red Lentils Lens culinaris মচুৰ দাইল(Mosur Dail) মসুর/মুসুরি ডাল (Moshur/Mushuri Ḍal) મસુર દાળ (Masoor Dāḷ) ಕೆಂಪು ತೊಗರಿ(Kempu Togari) (Parippu) मसूर डाळ(Masur Ḍāḷ) ସୁର/ମସୁର ଡାଲି(Sūrå/Måsūrå Ḍāli) ਮਾਸਰ/ਪੀਲੀ ਦੀ ਦਾਲ (Masar/ Peeli di Daal) මයිසූර් පරිප්පු (Mysore Parippu) மைசூர் பருப்பு (Mysore Paruppu) ఎర్ర కంది పప్పు (Erra Kandi Pappu)/ ఎర్ర కాందులు (Erra Kandulu) ಕಜೆ ಸಾಲೈ/ತೊಗರಿ (Kajae Sālayi/Togari) (Masoor) /مسور मोसुुर डाळ (Mosur Ḍāḷ) ꯍꯋꯥꯏ ꯃꯥꯏꯔꯣꯡꯕꯤ (Hawai Mairongbi) मुसुरको दाल (Musurako Dāl) মোসৰী দালি (Mosri Dāil) मसूर/मसहूर दाळ (Masūr/Masahūr Dāḷ) मूँग (Mūng) Mung bean (Green gram) Vigna Radiata মগু দাইল(Mogu Dăil) মুগ ডাল(Mug Ḍāl) મગ દાળ(Mag Dāḷ) (Pacchesaru / Hesaru Beḷe) ചെറുപയർ (Cherupayar) मूग(Mug Ḍāḷ) ମୁଡ଼/ମୁଗ ଡାଲି(Muṛå/Mugå Ḍali) ਮੁੰੰਗੀ ਦੀ ਦਾਲ (Mūngi di Daal) මුං ඇට (Mung Eṭa) பச்சை பயரு/பருப்பு (Pachai Payaru/Paruppu) పెసర పప్పు (Pesara Pappu) /పెసలు (Pesalu) ಪದೆಂಗಿ ಸಾಲೈ (Padengi Sālayi) (Mūng) مونگ मूग (Mūg Ḍāḷ) ꯍꯋꯥꯏ ꯃꯨꯛ (Hawai Muk) मुङ्ग दाल (Mung Dāl) খেৰহী দালি (Kherhi Dāil)/ ওঙ্ক্রী দালি (Onkri Dāil) मग/मोगर दाळ (Mag/Mogar Dāḷ) तिल (Til) Sesame Sesamum indicum তিল (Til) তিল(Til) તલ(Tal) ಎಳ್ಳು(Eḷḷu) എള്ള് (Eḷḷu) तीळ(Tiḷ) ରାଶି (Rāsi) ਤੀਲ (Til) තල (Thala) எள் (Eḷu) నువ్వులు (Nuvvulu)నువ్వు పప్పు (Nuvvu Pappu) ಎಡ್ಮೆ/ಎಣ್ಮ (Eḍme/ Eṇme) (Til) تل तीळ (Tiḷ) ꯊꯣꯏꯗꯤꯡ ꯑꯉꯒꯨꯕꯥ꯫ / ꯊꯣꯏꯗꯤꯡ ꯑꯃꯨꯕꯥ (Thoiding Angouba/Thoiding Amuba) तील (Til) তীল(Tīl) तळ/तिल्ली (Taḷ/Tilli) मोठ (Moṭh) Moth bean (Turkish gram) Balls Vigna aconitifolia মথ/মঠ (Môth/Môṭh) મઠ(Maṭh) ತನ್ನಿ ಕಾಳು (Tanni Kāḷu) മമ്പയർ (Mambayar) मटकी(Maṭki) କଞ୍ଚା ମୁୁ଼ଡ଼/ମୁଗ(Kånchā Muṛå/Mugå) ਮੋਠ (Moṭh) தட்ட பயரு/பருப்பு (Thaṭa Payaru/Paruppu) బొబ్బర్లు (Bobbarlu) (Matki chawal) मोठ दाळ (Moṭh Dāḷ) राजमा (Rājmā) Kidney beans Phaseolus vulgaris ৰাজমাহ(Rājmāh) রাজমা(Rājmā) રાજમા(Rājmā) ಅವರ ಕಾಳು/ರಾಜಮಾ (Abara Kāḷu/Rājma) വൻപയർ /രജ്മ /അമര (Vanpayar/Rajma/Amara) राजमा(Rājmā) ରାଜମା(Rājamā) ਰਾਜਮਾ (Rājmā) මෑ ඇට (Mae Eṭa) அவரை/பீன்ஸ் (Avarai/Beans) రాజ్మా/ సీమచిక్కుడు విత్తులు/అనుములు (Rajma/ Sīmachikkuḍu Vittulu/ Anumulu) ಅಬರೆ (Abarae) Rajma phalli راجما ꯀꯨꯂꯤꯍꯋꯥꯏ (Kulihawāi) राजमा (Rājmā) ৰাজমা(Rājmā) राजमा (Rājmā) उड़द (Urad) Black Lentil (whole)/ White Lentil (dehusked) Vigna mungo মাটি মাহ(Māti Māh) কলাই ডাল/ বিউলি ডাল(Kôlāi Ḍāl/ Biuli Ḍāl) અડદ દાળ(Aḍad Dāḷ) (Uddina Beḷe) ഉഴുന്ന് (Uzhunnu) उडीद/ उडदाची डाळ(Uḍid/ Uḍadāchi Ḍāḷ) ବିରି ଡାଲି(Biri Ḍāli) ਕਾਲੀ ਦਾਲ (Kāli Dāl Whole – Sābat/ Split – Dhoti)/ ਮਾੰੰਹ (Mā̃h sābut/ dhoti/ Kāle Mā̃h) උඳු (Undhu) உளுந்து (Uḷundhu) మినప్పప్పు (Minappappu)/ మినుములు (Minumulu) ಉರ್ದು ಸಾಲೈ (Urdu Sālayi) (Ureed) उडद डाळ (Uḍad Dāḷ) ꯍꯋꯥꯏ ꯁꯒꯣꯜ (Hawāi Sagol) कालो मासको दाल (Kālo Māsko Dāl) কলাই দালি (Kalāi Dāil) उड़द दाळ (Uḍad Daḷ)मटर (Maṭar)PeaPisum sativum মটৰ(Môtôr) মটর(Môṭor) વટાણા(Vaṭāṇa) (Baṭāṇi) പട്ടാണി കടല (Paṭṭāṇi Kaḍala) मटार/वाटाणे(Maṭār/ Vāṭāṇe) ମଟର ଛୁଇଁ/ମଟର(Maṭårå Chhuĩ /Maṭårå) ਮਟਰ (Maṭar) பட்டாணி (Paṭṭāṇi) (Baṭāṇi) ಬಟಾಣಿ (Baṭāṇi) (Matar Phalli) वाटाणे (Vātāṇe) ꯍꯋꯥꯏ ꯊꯥꯔꯛ (Hawāi Thārak) केराउ (Kerāu) মটৰ(Maṭar) वटला/मटर (Vaṭlā/Maṭar)Hindi English Botanical name Assamese Bengali Gujarati Kannada Malayalam Marathi Oriya Punjabi Sinhala Tamil Telugu TuluUrdu Konkani MeiteiNepaliMaithiliRajasthani
Cereals
+ Cereal names by various Indian languagesHindi English Botanical name Assamese Bengali Gujarati Kannada Malayalam Marathi Oriya Punjabi Sinhala Tamil Telugu Tulu Urdu KonkaniMeiteiMaithiliRajasthani मक्कि/मकै (Makki/Makai) Maize,Corn Zea mays মাকৈ(Mākoi) ভুট্টা(Bhuṭṭā) મકાઈ(Makāi) ಮುಸುಕಿನ ಜೋಳ(Musukina Joḷa) ചോളം (Choḷam) मका(Makā) ମକା (Måkā) ਮੱਕਿ(Makki) ඉරිඟු (Iringu) மக்காசோளம் (Makka Choḷam) మొక్కజొన్న (Mokka Jonna) ಜೋಲ (Jōla) (Makai) जोळ (Joḷ) ꯆꯨꯖꯥꯛ (Chujak) মকৈ (Makai) मक्को (Makko) चावल (Chāval-uncooked rice) भात (Bhāt-cooked rice) Rice Oryza sativa চাউল (Sāul) / ভাত (Bhāt) চাল (Chāl) / ভাত (Bhāt) ચોખા (Chokhā)/ ભાત (Bhāt) ಅಕ್ಕಿ (Akki)/ ಅನ್ನ (Anna) അരി (Ari)/ ചോറ് (Chor) तांदूळ(Tā̃duḷ) / भात (Bhāt) ଚାଉଳ (Chāuḷå) / ଭାତ (Bhātå) ਚੋਲ (Chawl) / () සහල් (Sahal) / බත් (Bat) அரிசி (Arici)/ சாதம் (Sādam) బియ్యం (Biyyam)వడ్లు/వరి/వండిన అన్నం (Vaḍlu/Vari/Vanḍina Annam)ప్రాలు/ప్రాయి (Prālu /Prāyi) ಅರಿ (Ari) ಅನ್ನ (Anna) چاول(Chāval) तांदूळ (Tā̃duḷ)/ भात (Bhāt) ꯆꯦꯡ (Cheng)/ ꯑꯀꯪꯕꯥ ꯆꯦꯡ (Akobā Cheng) চৌৰ (Chôr)/ ভাত (Bhāt) चावळ/चोखा (Chawaḷ/Chokhā)/ भात (Bhāt) गॆहुन (Gehun) Wheat Triticum aestivum গম(Gôm) গম(Gôm) ઘઉઁ (Ghaũ) ಗೋಧಿ (Gōdhi) ഗോതമ്പ് (Godambu) गहू(Gahu) ଗହମ(Gåhåmå) ਕਣਕ (Kaṇak) තිරිඟු (Tiringu) கோதுமை (Godumai) గోధుమ (Godhuma) ಗೋದಿ (Gōdi) گيهو(Gehun) गोंव (Gõv) ꯒꯦꯍꯨ (Gehu) গহুম (Gahum) गऊं/गेऊं (Gaũ/Geũ) जोव (Jow) Barley Hordeum vulgare বাৰ্লি(Bārli) যব(Jaub) જવ(Jav) ಬಾರ್ಲಿ/ಜವೆ (Bārli /Jave) ബാർലി (Bārli) जव(Jav) ଯଉ(Jau) ਜੋੰ (Jawn) බාර්ලි (Bārli) பாரலி (Bārli) (Yāva), (Yāvaka Biyyam), (Jāva Biyyam) ಬಾರ್ಲಿ (Bārli) جؤ(Jav) वार्लि (Bārli) ꯕꯥꯔꯂꯤ (Bārli) () जव/जऊं (Jav/Joũ) जोवार (Jowār) Sorghum bicolor যুৱাৰ(Zuwār) যোবওর (Jowār) જુવાર (Juwār) (Jōḷa) ജേവാർ/ചോളം (Jowar/Choḷam) ज्वारी(Jwāri) ଜୁୟାର/ଜୁବାର (Juyāra/Jubāra) ਜਵਾਰ (Jawār) ඉදල් ඉරිඟු (Idal Iringu) கருஞ்சோளம் (Karunchoḷam) జొన్న (Jōnna) ಜೋಲ (Jōla) جوار(Javar) जोळ(Joḷ) ꯖꯣꯋꯥꯔ (Jowār) () जुआर (Juār) बाजरा (Bājrā) Pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum বাজৰা (Bājrā) বাজরা (Bājrā) બાજરી(Bājri) (Sajje) കമ്പ്/കംമ്പം (Kambu/Kambam) बाजरी(Bājri) ବାଜରା(Bājarā) ਬਾਜਰ (Bājar) බජිරි (Bajiri) கம்பு (Kambu) సజ్జలు (Sajjalu) ಸಜ್ಜೆ (Sajje) باجرا(Bājra) बाजरा(Bajra) ꯕꯥꯖꯔꯥ (Bājrā) বাজৰা (Bājrā) बाजरो (Bājro) रागि (Rāgi) Finger millet Eleusine coracana মৰুৱা (Maruwā) মারওআ (Mārwā) નાગળી/નાચણી(Nāgḷi/Nachṇi) (Rāgi) കൂരഗ്/പാഞ്ജി പുല്ലു (Kūragu/Pānji Pullu) नाचणी/नागली(Nāchṇi/Nāgli) ମାଣ୍ଡିଆ(Māndiā) ਰਾਗੀ (Rāgi) කුරක්කන් (Kurakkan) கேழ்வரகு / கேப்பை /ஆரியம் (Kezhvaragu /Keppai /Ariyam) / /రాగులు