Time to gig in: This history podcast turns Britain’s favourite dishes into stories of migration and identity

If you are looking for a podcast that is as satisfying as a home- cooked meal, History's Greatest Dishes by the HistoryExtra team is a must-listen. Hosted by Emily Briffett and food historian Annie Gray, the show skips the usual foodie snobbery to get straight to the juicy stories behind what we eat.

Their episode on the Balti is a standout, offering a 30-min deep dive into how Birmingham became the heart of a South Asian culinary revolution. You will learn how the iconic Balti Triangle was born in the 1970s and why those specific carbon-steel bowls were designed for high-heat, lightning-fast cooking that defines the dish's unique flavour.

The beauty of the series lies in how Gray and Briffett explore migration and restaurant culture to show how they reshaped the British palate, debunking plenty of myths along the way.


It is not a dry history lecture but rather a punchy, vibrant exploration of cultural fusion. For anyone who loves a good 'did you know' trivia nugget, this series is a total treat that leaves you both smarter and significantly hungrier. It is the perfect companion for a short commute or a quick break, proving that a single bowl of curry can tell a massive story about a nation's evolution.