Indian Takeaway

Today was my first experience of a rural Indian packed lunch. When it was time to eat, my colleagues all had identical meals and presented me with one of my very own: three small plastic bags and a ball of leaves the size of a child’s head.

Unwrapping the bundle revealed, inevitably, a block of sticky rice. The leaves handily double up as a plate. Today’s accompaniments were:

• One bag yellow daal. To be poured over the rice.
• One bag curried eggs. In curry sauce.
• One bag chillies. I’m pretty sure this was a practical joke.

There’s no cutlery, so just dig in with your right hand and start shovelling. Who needs sandwiches?