This idea of the Balti pan was brought from China along the ancient Silk Route across the Karakoram Pass, Baltistan and into Punjab evolving into slightly deeper, more rounded pans and becoming one of the main cooking implements.

The food served in the Balti pan is freshly cooked and aromatically spiced curries. Balti food is very aromatic but not excessively spiked with chillies. Traditionally it is eaten without rice or cutlery. Balti bread is used to scoop up the food using the right hand.