Punjab

An area of the Subcontinent now divided between India and Pakistan, and the name of both the Indian state, whose capital is Chandigarh, and the Pakistani province, whose capital is Lahore. The name is derived from the Urdu word panj, meaning “five,” and refers to the five large rivers that drain the region. Punjabi food, brought by immigrants, was the first subcontinental cuisine to become known to North Americans: a blend of Moghul-style dishes with tandoor-cooked breads and meats, and simple vegetable dishes such as aloo ghobi (cauliflower and potato) and muttar paneer (green peas with cheese).