Glossary of Indian Foods and Spices: English to Hindi
Moving from America to India to set up a new life with my husband, one of my first tasks was to learn Indian cooking. I have to honestly say, the internet was and is my most loyal resource. Between studying recipes and how-to videos and my husband's patient guidance I have managed to learn quite a few dishes and adapted them to my own. It seems a journey that will never reach an end, but one I'm excited to embrace and I continue to learn new foods and preparations.
I've found my greatest barrier in learning is that of language. I'm horribly slow picking up Hindi and have found myself scouring the web for Hindi to English translations of foods so I can figure out what I'm doing. There are sources out there and some very good ones, but I didn't find them as all-inclusive as I was wanting. So, that being said, I set out to pull together a little more comprehensive list. I'm sure there are things I've missed, and as I discover them, they'll be added to this glossary.
Spices and Herbs; Nuts, Legumes and Grains; Vegetables; Fruits; Dairy; Meats; and Popular Terms
Spices and Herbs:
English Name...Hindi Name
All spice... Kebab cheeni
Alum.... Phitkari
Aniseed... Suwa or shopa
Asafoedita... Hing
Basil... Basil/bazil
Basil, holy... Tulsi
Bay leaf... Tej patta
Black pepper... Kali mirchi
Black salt... Kala namak
Capers... Kachra
Caraway seed... Shahi jeera
Cardamom, black... Badi elaichi/kali elaichi
Cardamom, green... Choti elaichi
Carom/thyme Seed... Ajwain
Celery seed... Ajmud
Cinnamon... Dalchini
Cinnamon buds... Naaga keshar
Citric acid... Saji na phool
Clove... Laung
Coriander powder... Dhania powder/pisa dhania
Coriander seed... Dhania
Cloves... Lavang
Cumin, black... Kali zeera
Cumin seed... Jeera
Curry tree/Sweet neem... Kadipatta
Dill... Soa sag
Fennel seed... Saunf
Fenugreek leaf... Kasoori methi
Garam masala... Garam masala
Ginger... Adrak
Ginger, dried... Sonth
Licorice powder... Jethmadh
Mace... Javitri
Mango extract... Camiki
Mango powder... Aamchur
Mint... Pudina
Molasses/unref sugar... Jaggery/gur
Mustard oil... Sarson tel
Mustard seed... Sarson
Mustard seed, brown... Rai
Nutmeg... Jaiphal
Peppercorns... Kali mirch
Pomegranate seed... Anardana
Poppy seeds... Khus khus
Saffron... Kesar, Zaafraan
Saffron pulp... Kesar miri miri
Salt... Namak
Sesame seed... Til
Star anise... Chakra phool
Tamarind... Imli
Tea... Chai
Tumeric... Haldi
Vinegar... Sirka
White pepper... Safed mirchi
Nuts/Legumes/Grains:
English Name... Hindi Name
Almond... Badam
Black eyes peas... Chawli /lobhia
Cashew... Kaju
Chickpeas, brown... Chana
Chickpeas, green... Hara chana
Chickpeas, white... Khabuli chana
Gram flour (chickpea)... Besan
Maize/corn flour... Makai ka atta
Peanuts... Moongphali
Pistachios... Pista
Puffed rice... Kurmura
Red kidney beans... Rajma
Red lentils... Masoor
Refined flour... Maida
Rice... Chawal
Semolina... Rava/suji
Split Bengal gram... Chana dal
Split black gram... Urad dal/kaali dal
Split red/yellow gram... Toovar dal/arhar dal
Split red lentil... Masoor dal
Walnut... Akroot
Vermicelli... Seviyan
Wheat... Gehun
Wheat flour... Gehun ka atta
Vegetables:
English Name... Hindi Name
Asparagus... Musli/shatwar/sootmooli/halyan
Avocado... Makhanphal
Bottle gourd... Doodhi
Cabbage... Patta gobi
Carrot... Gajar
Cauliflower... Phool gobi
Celery... Doroo
Chili, green hot... Hari mirch
Chili, red... Lal mirchi
Corn on cob... Bhutta
Corn, kernel... Makai
Corriander, fresh... Dhania
Cucumber... Kheera
Dillweed... Suvabhaji
Egg plant... Brinjal/biangan
French beans... Flas beans
Gardencress... Halim
Garlic... Lahsun
Indian sorrel... Khatti bhaji
Lettuce... Kasmisaag
Lotus stem... Kamal kakdior/bhien
Mustard greens... Sarson
Mushrooms... Goochi
Okra... Bhindi
Olives... Zeetoon/ziatoon
Onion... Pyaaz
Peas... Matar
Pepper, capsicum/bell... Shimla mirch
Pepper, yellow... Peeli mirchi
Potato... Aloo
Pumpkin... Kadhu
Radish... Mooli
Salad leaves/endives... Gulsuchal
Spinach... Palak
Sweet potato... Shakarkand
Tapioca... Simla aloo
Tomato... tamatar
Water chestnuts... Shingara
Fruits:
English Name... Hindi Name
Apple... Sabe
Appricot, dried... Khumani
Banana... Kela
Cantelope... Kharbooja
Coconut... Naryal
Currants... Kishmish
Dates... Khajur
Figs... Amjeer
Grapes... Angoor
Guavas... Amrood
Jackfruit... Kathal
Lemon/Lime... Neembu/nimbu
Litchie... Lichee
Mango... Aam
Mulberry... Shehtooth
Muskmelon... Kharbooja
Orange... Santra
Papaya... Papeeta
Pear... Nashpati
Pineapple... Ananas
Plum... Aloobukara
Pomegranate... Anar
Raisin... Kishmish
Sweet lime... Mosambi
Watermelon... Tarbooj, kalingad
Dairy
English Name... Hindi Name
Butter milk... Mattha/chhaach
Clarified butter... Ghee
Cottage cheese... Paneer
Cream... Malai
Curd... Dahi
Dried whole milk... Khoya/mawa
Meats:
English Name... Hindi Name
Chicken... Murgh
Fish... Macchli
Ground meat... Keema
Meat (any)... Gosht
Mutton... Yakni
Prawn/shrimp... Jinga
Popular Dishes:
Achar... Pickles (any type)
Biryani... Spicy rice casserole
Dal... A dish prepared with lentils in a spicy gravy
Korma... Meat or vegetables in a thick, creamy sauce
Lassi... A creamy yogurt drink
Masala... Spice blend
Naan... Flat bread cooked in a tandoor
Pakora... Fritter dipped in a spicy batter, usually made with besan
Pani... Water
Paratha... Flat bread fried on a griddle basted with oil or ghee
Poori... Deep-fried bread
Pulao... Rice pilaf
Roti... Thin bread cooked on a griddle
Saag... Any greens
Samosa... Triangular flaky pastry stuffed with potatoes or meats
Tandoor... Clay oven that uses high temperatures
Tandoori... Any dish cooked in a tandoor
Vegetables... Sabji
Vindaloo... Very spicy curry dish, native to Goa
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