India tells its stories through food—and this summer, we’re giving you the lens to share it!
“Taste the Lens: India on a Plate” is a vibrant food photography contest by Times Food, celebrating the incredible culinary diversity across the country. Whether it's home-cooked thalis, temple prasadam, or the first sip of summer sips—this is your moment to showcase the magic on your plate.
Submit your best food photo under one of the delicious categories below and stand a chance to win exciting e-gift vouchers. Plus, get featured across our Times Food social handles and website!
The decision of the Editorial Team of TOI will be final and binding
Entries are selected based on a combination of factors including authenticity, impact, originality, aesthetics and overall conceptualization. Submissions are reviewed for how effectively they align with the spirit and intent of the contest. Please note that in cases where multiple entries are submitted by the same individual, only the first entry is considered for selection.
Dal Pitha -दाल पीठा- also known as Pithi- is a Bihari dish that is a mixture of spicy lentils is stuffed into rice flour doughs and then boiled or steamed in a saucepan. Indian language defines dal as lentils and pitha or pithi as whole wheat or freshly prepared rice flour dumplings. The steamed dumplings have a shape similar to that of Gujiya.
Hyderabadi non-veg biryani is a royal dish known for its rich flavor and aroma. It’s traditionally made using the dum -slow cooking- method. Marinated meat—usually chicken or mutton—is spiced with yogurt- ginger-garlic paste- red chili- garam masala- mint- and fried onions. This meat is layered with partially cooked basmati rice- saffron-infused milk- ghee- and more fried onions. The layers are sealed and slow-cooked on low heat- allowing the flavors to blend beautifully. The result is a fragrant- tender- and flavorful biryani that represents the legacy of Hyderabad’s royal kitchens. It's often served with raita or mirchi ka salan.
It is a mouthwatering dessert filled with sweetness and delicious chocolate with fruits and fresh cream toppings.
Idli Vada with chutney and Pure black Coffee. Caption - Enforce Hindi❌ Enforce Thindi✅
सर्दी की धूप सी मीठी, कद्दूकस गाजरों की सौगात! घी में धीमी आंच पर भुनती, इलायची की महक से मदहोश करती। खोए की चिकनाहट, मेवों की कतरन, हर चम्मच में स्वाद का उत्सव। केसरिया रंगत, जैसे थाली में उतर आया हो सुनहरा सपना। यह सिर्फ मिठाई नहीं, दादी माँ के प्यार की गर्माहट है, त्योहारों की मिठास है, और हर भारतीय घर की अपनी कहानी है। गरमा गरम परोसिये, और हर बाइट में खो जाइये!
Chai pakora = love ❤️ - A glass of tea or chai, positioned at the top left of the plate. - A small metal bowl containing a red sauce or chutney, located to the right of the tea. - Another small metal bowl filled with a reddish-brown spice or powder, situated to the right of the red sauce. - A pile of fried potato slices or pakora, garnished with green herbs and occupying the majority of the plate. - Thinly sliced onions and a green chili pepper are visible on the right side of the plate.
Nice and chat pata flavour with nice tangy pudina and sweet chutney garnish by some salt and pepper on top with home made puris with smoked bhaji and sev ( You will like it )
Spiced Simplicity – The Soul of Banaras A riot of flavors and colors captured in a single frame – this is Tamaatar Chaat- the iconic street delicacy of Banaras. Unlike its fruitier namesake- this chaat is a bold blend of mashed tomatoes- boiled potatoes- spices- jaggery- and desi ghee- all simmered together in a brass pot and topped with crisp sev and fresh coriander. Served piping hot in a dona -leaf bowl-- it's not just food – it's an experience of tangy-sweet heat- nostalgia- and street-side charm. Through this photo.
Mango lassi is best in malad sabkuch restaurants, basically is famous for jain restaurant, and yesss its mango season so go and try this mango lassi
Cool, Creamy Flavourful Aam Kaa Ras In Pune Kee Galiyaan
It is a unique way of making white spicy pasta without using garlic and onion, and it's very delicious.
Nandini food Street famous mandya special in Bangalore
Pani puri is one of the most delicious street foods
Egg Backed sandwich @khaloli , satara , Maharashtra
Egg puffs or Mutta Puffs, as known in Malayalam, is a quintessential snack from Kerala. From young to old, Egg Puffs are enjoyed across all age groups and it transcends beyond being just a mere snack to being an emotion, a comfort food, and a bite of nostalgia.
Ingredients For the Base: 1 cup digestive biscuits -crushed- 2 tbsp melted butter For the Cheesecake Layer: 1 cup cream cheese or hung curd ½ cup condensed milk ½ cup whipped cream 2 tbsp gulkand ¼ tsp cardamom powder For the Topping: Mini gulab jamuns Dried rose petals Chopped pistachios Edible silver leaf -optional- 1. Prepare the base: Mix biscuit crumbs with butter Chill in fridge for 20 minutes. 2. Make cheesecake layer: Blend cream cheese- condensed milk- whipped cream- gulkand- and cardamom. Spoon over the crust. Smooth the top. Chill for 4–5 hours to set.
Odisha streetfood mudhi mixture and matar pani. Puffed rice snacks and yellow peas boiled ,garnished and served like a soup. Both are very healthy and filling with almost no oil except a sprinkle of mustard oil. These dishes are delicious to core and whole india relishes these with their own recipe and name. You can get both the dishes in streets of Odisha in very affordable rates. Diet conscious people also can eat them
Delicately wrapped and perfectly golden, these Crispy Veggie Spring Rolls are filled with a vibrant medley of finely chopped vegetables sautéed with aromatic spices. The thin, flaky wrapper delivers a satisfying crunch with every bite, while the flavorful filling offers a balance of texture and taste. Served with a tangy dipping sauce, this appetizer is a crowd-pleaser that celebrates freshness, crunch, and flavor in one bite.
A vibrant bowl of creamy delight — tender fried chicken, crisp veggies, a spicy egg, and rich broth kissed with lime and sesame. Rich, savory and Comforting!!!
Little sweet savoury nd spicy green chillies with mouth watering raw mango with little tadka of desi masaale ...so ymmy
Chicken biryani is a timeless culinary masterpiece that brings together aroma, flavor, and tradition in every bite. This fragrant dish features succulent pieces of chicken, marinated in yogurt and spices, layered with long-grain basmati rice that's been delicately infused with saffron. Cooked slowly to perfection, the biryani is further enriched with caramelized onions, fresh herbs, and a hint of ghee, giving it a rich and inviting texture. The harmony of spices creates a warm, comforting taste that lingers on the palate. Aromatic and deeply satisfying, chicken biryani remains a beloved staple across cultures, celebrated for its depth and complexity.
This is a Ugadi festival plate with sweet(hoobatu) and is very famous in Karnataka
Veg Hakka Noodles with Veg Manchurian is a popular Indo-Chinese dish featuring stir-fried noodles tossed with colorful vegetables like cabbage, bell peppers, and carrots, flavored with soy sauce, garlic, and a hint of vinegar for a smoky, savory taste. It is served alongside Veg Manchurian, which consists of deep-fried vegetable balls made from finely chopped veggies, simmered in a spicy, tangy sauce made with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and chili. Together, the combination offers a delicious balance of textures and bold flavors, making it a favorite comfort meal.
Amazing Dahi puri with sweet and Spicy mix of Chutney and blasting flavours in the mouth
Momo- a sentiment wrapped in a steaming wonderment. And especially when its pahari and hand made by the locals. Presenting chicken momo from Dawaipani (a small mountaintop village in North Bengal) with a tangy crunchy chutny made from red chilli tomatoes and peanuts.
It is one of the famous classic Indian street snacks, grilled and found literally on every Indian street or market on either side of the roads. It is made out of cottage cheese.
Rava idli is indeed a popular street food, particularly in South India and especially in Karnataka. It's a variation of the traditional idli, made with semolina instead of fermented rice batter.
Rabdi is creamy stripes of milk slow boiled.Fresh milk boiled in slow heat in wide iron vessel continuously tended to seperate the formed malai strips into circumferential heaps.This one was at Guru Shikhar Mt Abu .Creamy stripes were filled in. Clay pots sprinkled wirh pistachio almond shavings in a freezing glass display chamber.Too Good.Por over a hot sugar dripping Jalebi or just like That!
Sattvik meal comprising paranthas, raitha, salad, biryani, fry items, palak panner and panner butter masala without onion and garlic. Tastes like heaven!
Today, I created a mouthwatering twist on classic street food—Semolina Spinach Pani Puri! Crispy puris made from roasted semolina and fresh spinach brought vibrant color and crunc
Chicken Biryani is a royal symphony of flavors, where tender chicken dances with fragrant basmati rice in a waltz of saffron, spices, and slow-cooked love. Born in ancient kitchens and perfected through generations, it’s a layered masterpiece—golden, aromatic, and soulful.
Aloo Paratha a classic North Indian stuffed bread recipe made with wheat flour and spiced potato mash for stuffing. Almost every home has their own unique recipe and technique for making this delicious North Indian
A city that never sleeps needs a chai that never gets cold or old. A medley of hand pounded spices such as clove, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon & nutmeg offer taste and health. A city that never sleeps needs a chai that never gets cold or old. A medley of hand pounded spices such as clove, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon & nutmeg offer taste and health.
Straight from the lanes of Old Delhi, this Mohabbat Ka Sharbat is cool, refreshing, and the ultimate summer thirst-quencher.
Tangled in flavour and tossed on a hot wok, this street-style Chowmein is the chaos your taste buds crave! Sizzling noodles stir-fried with crunchy veggies, fiery sauces, and that unmistakable smoky aroma—every bite is a spicy-sweet punch of nostalgia. Topped with raw onion rings, cucumber slices, and a dash of chaat masala, it’s a fusion of Indo-Chinese madness that only Indian street vendors can master. Served in a humble steel plate and devoured on the go, it’s not just food—it’s a late-night craving, a childhood memory, and a street-side story rolled into one.
Cinnamon lemon masala tea in summer is a surprising burst of warmth and zest, cutting through the heat with its bold spice and citrusy brightness. The earthy masala grounds the tangy lemon, while cinnamon adds a sweet kick that lingers. It's like sipping sunshine with a twist—refreshing, invigorating, and slightly rebellious against the season.
Bhaajneeche Thaalipeeth - भाजणीचे थालिपीठ, is a popular, yummy and extremely nourishing Maharashtrian snack made from a flavorful mixture of roasted spices and flours. The combination of crunchy exterior & soft interior, along with aromatic spices make it a delicious snack for anytime of the day. Accompaniments include spicy chutney, a blob of homemade butter, ghee or the humble tomato sauce.
Khasta Kachori is stuffed with mix of spices and dal served with green ad sweet chutney
अमृत शुकदेव के पराठा सुनते ही मुँह में पानी आ जाता है। पतला, करारा और देसी घी से सना हुआ हर पराठा न सिर्फ स्वाद में लाजवाब होता है, बल्कि इसमें पुराने दिल्ली के खाने की आत्मा भी बसती है। अचार और मक्खन के साथ परोसा गया ये पराठा, एक सादा से दिखने वाले व्यंजन को खास बना देता है। हर कौर में पारंपरिक स्वाद और सादगी की मिठास महसूस होती है।
Strawberry litchi lemonade is a refreshing blend that captures the joy of summer. The sweet notes of litchi and strawberries perfectly balance the tang of lemon, creating a burst of flavor. It’s more than a drink—it’s a cool, fruity moment of sunshine in a glass.
The meal is fit for a king , it usually includes a large number of dishes covering all flavours . Actually it is the most luxurious , complete version of a traditional thali
Banana crushed with ice- toned milk and dry fruits -cashew- almonds and walnuts- and whey protein and topped with a creamy layer of ice creams.
This paratha isn’t just food—it’s a memory wrapped in dough. My aunt’s hands, dusted with flour, roll out layers stuffed with golden potatoes, curry-scented chicken, and garam masala. Grilled on a sizzling tawa, it crisps at the edges, then crowns itself with molten cheese, fiery chilies, and sun-ripened tomatoes. The first bite cracks with crunch, melting into warmth that hugs your soul. Served on a banana leaf, it’s a love letter to Mumbai’s streets—where chai-sipped mornings and late-night cravings collide. Every bite tells a story: spice-stained aprons, laughter, and the unapologetic joy of messy, glorious street food.
Pink Sauce Pasta with Garlic Bread
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Entries are judged on creativity, composition, and relevance to the theme.
June 5, 2025.
₹1500 e-gift vouchers and a chance to be featured by Times Food.
In the live gallery on the contest page.