NRI makes a mark with Indian food

An Indian-origin student in the UK has bagged a major entrepreneur award for establishing a successful curry company based on her mother's recipe for authentic Indian 'karhai', 'shaahi' and 'daal' dishes.

Priya Lakhani, a Cheshire-based law student set up the Masala Masala company six months ago and her freshly-made sauces are already selling in more than 30 countries.

A former finalist of the 'Make Your Mark' entrepreneur competition and the Shell Livewire Grand Ideas Award earlier this year, she last week scooped the 'Daily Mail Entrepreneur of the Year' award, where she was presented with her trophy by Chancellor Alistair Darling.

"I loved working as a lawyer but I had a long commute across London to where I was living. By the time I got home I was too tired to cook a curry from scratch and I couldn't find any pre-made sauces that had the fresh ingredients I would normally use to cook a curry.

"So I thought that if noone else will create a fresh sauce I might as well do it myself," Lakhani said. Priya, who learned to cook from her parents, created authentic Indian Karahi, Shahi and Daal stir-in sauces using fresh, non-anglicised ingredients.

"All you need is the chicken, or whatever it is you want in your curry. You don't even need onions or tomatoes as these are all in the sauce," she said.