Fact: at least three
Indian dishes well known in the
UK and
elsewhere are in fact
British and not Indian at all.
Balti was invented somewhere in the
West Midlands, and literally means
bucket. While the principle is Indian, the specifics are more
British than
Fish and Chips.
Bombay Mix, aside from being the snackfood equivalent of
mild, are also a UK invention, having been dreamt up by a food
magnate named
Noon. Almost certainly manufactured by sweeping out the machines that make
Pot Noodles.
Chicken Tikka Masala: The
story is this. A
Brit went into an
Indian restaurant and ordered
Chicken Tikka. When it arrived, he declared 'Where's the
sauce?' The waiter, in a fluster, took it back to the kitchen, but all that could be found was a tin of
Heinz Cream of Tomato soup. This was duly heated up and used as garnish, the
Brit went away satisfied, and Chicken Tikka Masala was born.