Question : Comprehension:
India is a diverse nation with many different cultures. Although some eating habits are considered staples of Indian cuisine, these habits may not be practised by all the cultures of India. Cuisine differs across India's diverse regions as a result of variations in local culture, geographical location (proximity to the sea, desert, or mountains), and economics. It also varies seasonally, depending on which fruits and vegetables are ripe. Also, Middle Eastern and Central Asian influences have occurred in North Indian cuisine since the years of Mughal rule. Indian cuisine is still evolving as a result of the nation's cultural interactions with other societies.

Historical incidents such as foreign invasions, trade relations, and colonialism have played a role in introducing certain foods to the country. For instance, potato, a staple of the diet in some regions of India, was brought to India by the Portuguese, who also introduced chillies and breadfruit. Indian cuisine has shaped the history of international relations; the spice trade between India and Europe was the primary catalyst for Europe's Age of Discovery. Spices were bought from India and traded around Europe and Asia. Indian cuisine has influenced other cuisines across the world, especially those from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, the British Isles, Fiji, and the Caribbean.

Indian food is rich in flavour. However, spices do more than flavour a dish; they are also used to cool and warm the body during hot or cold weather. Yoghurt is commonly used to flavour dishes or as a sauce to chill spicy dishes. Many Indian dishes are cooked in vegetable oil, but peanut oil is popular in northern and western India, mustard oil in eastern India, and coconut oil along the western coast, especially in Kerala. Gingelly (sesame) oil is common in the south since it imparts a fragrant, nutty aroma. In recent decades, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, and soybean oils have become popular across India. Butter-based ghee, or deshi ghee, is used frequently, though less than in the past.

Based on the passage above, choose the correct option for the following question.

Question

According to the passage, what have Middle Eastern and Central Asian influences in India?

Option 1: Dresses

Option 2: North Indian cuisine

Option 3: Festivals

Option 4: Lifestyle

Team Careers360 5th Jan, 2024