What did the Mughals eat for dinner every day, what was their thali like?

When people think of Mughal emperors, luxurious palaces and big dining tables often come to their mind. But the truth is that the Mughal emperors never ate while sitting on tables and chairs. His Dastarkhwan i.e. the royal cloth spread for eating was spread on the ground only. Mattresses and cushions were placed on top of it, on which the king would sit comfortably and eat his meals.

Dastarkhwan was not just an ordinary cloth. It was often made of silk, velvet or damascus cloth. Sometimes it was embroidered with gold threads. A thick carpet was spread beneath it so that the royal meal was more comfortable and safe. The Mughal emperor never liked to eat without Dastarkhwan.

What did the Mughals eat for dinner every day?

Mughal daily food was full of many types of dishes. This included korma, kebabs, pulao, rotis and sweet dishes, fresh and dried fruits, pickles, Indian spices and sometimes European dishes. As time passed, after the arrival of the Portuguese, potatoes and chillies also became a part of the royal diet. During the times of Jahangir and Shahjahan, potatoes were also cooked in different ways and kept on Dastarkhan. The most magnificent and diverse thali was considered to be that of Balindir Shahzafar. Turkish, Afghani and Indian dishes were all present in his thali.

How was his plate?

The food of Mughal emperors was very special not only in taste but also in appearance. His plate was always magnificent, colorful and decorated with gold and silver leaves. The cooks made full use of their skills. The fruits were cut in the shape of flowers or leaves. Dry fruits were glazed with gum before adding them to the pulao. Ghee was colored and flavored. Curd was sometimes served in seven colours.

Paneer was decorated in special baskets. During Jahangir’s reign, Noor Jahan brought a new dimension of artistic decoration to the royal kitchen. Apart from this, many dishes were prepared daily for the emperor. Some dishes were kept half cooked, so that the emperor could eat them immediately on demand. It was necessary to have fruits and pickles in his plate. It was believed that fruits increase appetite, improve digestion and prevent diseases.

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