The Chola Empire is Responsible for Adding Coconut Milk in Thai Curry

Have you ever wondered why lots of South East Asian dishes contain coconut milk. Well you can attribute that to the Chola dynasty.

The Chola empire, which existed in southern India from the 9th to the 13th centuries, had a significant impact on not only Indian cuisine but also the cuisine of South East Asia. The Chola kings were known for their military conquests and maritime trade, which allowed for cultural exchange and the spread of Indian ingredients, cooking techniques, and culinary traditions to the region.

One of the most significant influences of the Chola empire on South East Asian cuisine was the introduction of rice as a staple food. The Cholas were known for their advanced irrigation systems and agricultural practices, which allowed for the cultivation of large quantities of rice. Rice became a staple food in South East Asia, where it was adapted into dishes like Indonesian nasi goreng and Malaysian nasi lemak.

The Cholas also introduced a variety of spices to South East Asia, including black pepper, cardamom, and cloves. These spices were used in Indian cuisine and were quickly adopted by South East Asian chefs, who incorporated them into dishes like Thai green curry and Indonesian beef rendang. The use of these spices not only added flavour and depth to dishes, but also had health benefits, such as aiding digestion and reducing inflammation.

The most important influence of the Chola empire on South East Asian cuisine was the use of coconut milk. The Cholas were known for their extensive use of coconut milk in curries and stews, which was later adopted by South East Asian chefs. Coconut milk is now a key ingredient in dishes like Thai green curry, Malaysian laksa, and Indonesian nasi kuning.

The Cholas also had an impact on South East Asian desserts. The use of jaggery, a type of unrefined sugar, was introduced by the Cholas and is now used in a variety of South East Asian desserts, such as Indonesian bubur sumsum and Malaysian onde-onde. The Cholas also introduced the concept of using fruit in desserts, which is now a common practice in South East Asian cuisine.

The greatest legacy of the Cholas in South East Asia was to introduce the now commonplace concept of eating with one's hands. No wonder we enjoy their food so much.