The Balti

Its Birth, Its Boom Years and Beyond
A full-bodied celebration of Birmingham's iconic dish-its origins, its influence, its enduring popularity and its greatest recipes

The Balti charts the story of one of Britain’s most iconic dishes, from its birth in 1975 in a part of Birmingham that became known as the Balti Triangle, through the height of its popularity in the 1990s to its more recent demise—though not disappearance—in competition with a proliferation of burger joints and dessert parlours. Interviews with chefs and owners give a rare insight into the running of family restaurants and the tremendous impact the balti has had on many a Birmingham business, bringing back happy memories of the ‘balti boom’ in the city, the Black Country, and beyond.

As a slightly obsessed balti aficionado, Andy Munro shares some of the best and most authentic balti recipes out there, given by the greatest balti houses past and present. He also delves into the manufacturing history and health benefits of the unique Birmingham-made carbon steel ‘balti bowl’, which gives the curry its name. So grab your naans, pour your lassi, and get ready for a full-bodied celebration of Birmingham’s iconic dish—its origins, its influence, its enduring popularity, and its greatest recipes.