South Asian stories from the UK (Part 1)

Chef Apsana Khatun, a native of Bangladesh, hails from the close-knit South Asian community of Birmingham. In her mother's kitchen, she imbibed invaluable culinary traditions that shaped her passion for cooking. Among the family favorites is the beloved dish of Chicken Qorma.

Rozma Bi is a loving grandmother, who journeyed from Dadyal, Pakistan to Birmingham at sixteen. Her culinary prowess began from making flatbread chapatis with her mother to collecting prized recipes from her aunts. One of these is a sweet, milk-based dessert, known as Rasmalai.

From the region of Attock, Mehr-un brought with her to the UK a treasure trove of flavors from her homeland. At a young age, her mother's traditional recipes nurtured a passion for cooking. Chicken Karahi is among these dishes, retaining succulent flavors and tender textures.

In the town of Bosley Green, UK, resides Najma Khan, whose roots trace back to Lahore and Mirpur. Among the delicious dishes of Najma's childhood is the Chicken and Okra dish, a culinary gem passed down to her by her mother. Today, she lovingly prepares it for her own children.

Sadia Bashir's culinary journey began at age 14, in the heart of Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, where she began cooking under the guidance of her mother. Her love for cooking began with the craft of preparing traditional Pakistani kebabs, a recipe she has now taught to her own daughter.

Shaista, born in Birmingham with her parents hailing from Dadyal, Kashmir, made the UK her home in the 1970s. As a passionate cook, she takes great pleasure in preparing meals like lamb pulao for her children, documenting for them recipes that she inherited from her mother.