Thali
Photo: Suyash.dwivedi · CC BY-SA 4.0

History

Bristol's thali habit began with a cafe in Montpelier serving festival-style Indian food on compartmented steel trays. The format grew into a small local institution, winning Observer Food Monthly award notice, and its reusable steel tiffin scheme, where a £20 tin buys your first takeaway and endless refills, became a small piece of Bristol food culture in its own right, years before packaging-free shopping went mainstream.

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Common allergens: Dairy, Gluten

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4Hands-on 1 hrTotal 1 hr 30 minDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 200g red lentils for dal, with turmeric and cumin
  • 400g tin of chickpeas for chana masala
  • 1 onion, tomatoes, garlic, ginger and garam masala
  • 300g basmati rice
  • 4 chapatis or flatbreads
  • 150g natural yoghurt for raita with cucumber
  • Mango chutney and lime pickle

Method

  1. Simmer the lentils with turmeric, water and salt into a loose dal, finishing with cumin seeds fried in hot oil.
  2. Cook a quick chana masala: soften onion, add garlic, ginger and spices, then tomatoes and chickpeas, and simmer 20 minutes.
  3. Steam the rice, warm the breads, and stir grated cucumber into the yoghurt for raita.
  4. Serve everything in small bowls arranged around rice on a tray, with chutney and pickle in the smallest bowls.

Tip from the editors. A thali lives on contrast: one wet dish, one dry, one cooling, one sharp; balance those and the plate composes itself.

Where to eat thali

Thali in Bristol

Thali Montpelier ★ 4.1

££ IndianMontpelier

Thali Montpelier is the original of Bristol's thali institution, serving award-noted curry plates and reusable steel tiffin takeaways on York Road.

TryFull thali

TipA past Observer Food Monthly cheap-eats award winner; vegan and gluten-free versions come as standard.

Directions

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More places near Thali Montpelier

Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.

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