Balti

/ˈbɑːlti/ noun

Definition

A style of Indian curry dish cooked and served in a pressed steel balti (bowl-shaped container), typically mild to medium in spice.

Etymology

From Urdu/Hindi balti (bucket or bowl). The dish was created in Birmingham, England, in the 1970s by Pakistani and Bangladeshi chefs who used the traditional balti cookware.

Kelly Says

Balti curry is a perfect example of 'fusion' food—it wasn't invented in India or Pakistan but in Birmingham, England, yet it uses genuine South Asian techniques and is now beloved across the UK, showing food cultures are always evolving.

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