What was the staple food in different parts of India around five hundred years back?

Let me guess- OP read some of the woke articles by harem lover's lot from the big colleges about how Bharatas used to live on rice-water before the Peacefuls and Angrej, in their unparalleled munificence, taught us how to eat…

Anyway.

Depends on various factors, but the distinguishing factor appears to have the availability of water- based upon which the populace consumed either rice or wheat or millets. Grain prices were roughly uniform across major trade routes, reflecting the observations of diarists and visiting Firangs that trade was fairly robust- as long as the traders were well-armed.

I'll briefly describe the dietary regimen of two Hindus, roughly at the turn of the century. Given the relative static social scenario in rural Orissa, I presume it'd have been the same in the 16th Century as well.

The Zamindar would wake up at 4 AM. After his prayers, daily morning rounds, and discussions with the guards & agents, he'll eat pakhala- semi-fermented rice with curds, ginger, lemon- or chuda-n rice, cheese, curds, butter, bananas, coconuts- at around 7 AM. At 11 AM, he would eat lunch- usually during his rounds of his lands- under a tree, similar fare for most part. In a pouch, he'd invariably carry dry gram or peas, jaggery, and pounded ginger. Not only was the mixture allegedly an excellent remedy for fever & cholera, a single fistful could keep an Oriya Zamindar going for days. At around 9–10 PM, he will eat the first and only proper meal of his day- rice with various preparations of stews and fried items, complete with pickles and preserves of several types. The dinners were long, for these were the only time that the Zamindar could meet with his children and/or the servants of the Household. Good Oriya Zamindars didn't touch Alcohol.

The common peasant- in this case, an woodcutter/ carpenter- would wake up at roughly 3–4 AM. He'd eat a few fistfuls of chuda or pakhala and set out for work. Around 10 AM and 3 PM, he will prepare and make chuda of the flattened/ puffed rice he'd carry and feral-growing bananas and some taro varieties which he'd eat. At 8 PM, he'd eat Pakhala with pickles and some form of stew or fried items.

Both would've also snacked on local fruits such as mangoes, papayas, ripe jackfruits, melons, dates, berries, and sugar-roasted sesame seeds, especially after work or during festivals.

The Zamindari would've been typical self-sufficient in all cases with granaries capable of storing produce for almost six months for everything and two years of rice, or emergencies. In general, barring famines and the one lean month, agrarian Orissa was fairly self-sufficient in food; partly since there was neither MNREGA nor subsidized rice to make laziness the National virtue.

The common people ate the local choice of grain. Common vegetables included eggplants, peas, lentils of various sorts, several variety of melons, leafy vegetables, taro, yams, cabbages, jackfruit, carrots, and beans. Most were seasonal, there was little scope of imports unless the crops themselves had been introduced for cultivation- like carrots had been, possibly during the Classical period.

Coconuts, Mangoes, Oranges, Apples, Grapes, Papayas, Pomegranates, and various kinds of berries were ubiquitous- however even those were all seasonal and often restricted to the Rich. Don't believe the vandal Babur's words that he introduced anything.

The riverine and coastal populace often are fish, however late medieval/ early modern India appears to have been less inclined to non-vegetarianism than their Classical counterparts. On the occasions that they did, they had dry roasts as well as baked dishes in mud ovens; I've eaten such on the banks of the Chilika myself. Stews, Kebabs, even Fried food was common among Hindus.

The most common animal utilized for food were pigs and boars, fish, and - in rare cases- goats, which is usually detested for their destructive grazing practices and avoided in farms. Chicken and Duck were rarely used for meat, with eggs usually eaten only by children. Meat was by no means a staple however with even the Hindus who could regularly afford it preferring to avoid unnecessary slaughter of life.

Tea was commonly drunk throughout the nation. The Educated classes, for some reason, claim it was introduced by the Angrej- even though all contemporary Firang travellers in the 16th and 17th Centuries mention how the average Bania was rarely found without a tumbler of hot black tea with ginger and lemon in his hands. The elderly flavoured theirs with cardamon, cinnamon, and fruit-infused butter. However the most common drink for adults was spiced buttermilk or warmed curd-drinks, though many preferred to take plain milk. For some reason, Bharatas hadn't- and still haven't- realised that we are all supposed to be lactose intolerant as per the educated scientists. Then again, given the way local cows are being murdered for beef and industrialized cattle from gods-know-where are being brought in, we'll soon be.

By the 17th Century, New World crops such as Tobacco and Chilli peppers had become popular as well. It took far longer for Potatoes and Tomatoes to become well-known, and even now several Temples boycott them. Pumpkins, however, have become extremely common even in the most Traditional temples on account of the gradual disappearance of several local species of gourds.

Desserts were relatively simple for the common people, though several decadent and rich sweet dishes were developed in royal kitchens as well. A perusal of Classical and Late Classical texts show little change in the most predominant styles- though the educated classes, for some crazy reason, are adamant that the Mughals introduced Sugar to India.

I'd discuss about various styles of local alcohols but I'll desist since I don't really respect Quora enough to believe them capable of a true meditation on the merits and overall philosophy of the art of brewing amongthe nations of the Bharatas. In any case, Sharia will put an end to any prospect of such.

Hope this has helped. Jai Jagannath.