Food guidesStory
What a good biryani should cost in 2026
We compared plate prices at twenty places. Here is what you pay for, and where the extra goes.
Search
Find any story on Masala Notes by word, place, section or writer.
Section
Post type
Results
Baking bread at home without an oven
A heavy pot on the stove works surprisingly well. Here is the method we use.
Shami kebabs to freeze for busy weeks
Make thirty on Sunday, eat them all month. Here is how to keep them from falling apart.
Street foodStory
Corn on coals: the winter snack nobody writes about
Charred over coals, rubbed with lemon and chilli salt. Where to find the best ones this season.
The best chai stops on the highway out of town
For the first hour of any road trip, these are the places that make tea the way it should be.
Mango season: how to pick a good one
Smell the stem, press gently, ignore the colour. A short guide before you buy a crate.
Chicken karahi in 30 minutes, without cutting corners
Tomatoes, green chillies and a very hot pan. No cream, no shortcuts that you can taste.
Street foodReview
The halwa puri queue starts at 7 on Sundays
Why a small stall near the old market sells out before 10, and what to order when you get there.
Ten places for a family dinner under budget
Big tables, quick service and food the kids will eat. All made-up places in this sample, with real tips.
Kitchen notesStory
Why your spices taste flat, and how to fix it
Old spices, wrong storage and too little heat. Three fixes that cost nothing.
Nothing found. Try a shorter word, or browse a section.