Types of dish

The structure of an Indian meal is different to the traditions of Western-style dining, where food is divided into appetizers, main courses and desserts. In India all the dishes are served at the same time and diners help themselves in any order, while desserts are usually only served on special occasions.

In the classic style, food is served in many parts of India on a thali -a large platter made of stainless steel or other metal. Rice and bread are placed on the thali and small bowls are used to serve curries. Pickles, chutneys and raitas are also served in small bowls. You can recreate this at home, either by using a round tray, or by buying a thali from an Asian store - they are not expensive.