History’s Greatest Dishes

Balti

May 3, 2026·32 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

From its roots in Birmingham’s south Asian communities in the 1970s to its meteoric rise to become one of Britain’s most popular curries, Balti marks a fusion between historical tradition and innovation. In this episode of History’s Greatest Dishes, Emily Briffett and food historian Annie Gray journey back to the earliest days of south Asian cuisine in Britain to chart the origins of this vibrant, fragrant dish. Together they explore how migration, creativity and restaurant culture helped reshape Britain’s relationship with curry, and consider how Balti reflects both the blending and clashing of cultures. You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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