As part of #NationalVegetarianWeek we are delighted to share with you one of Tommy Miah's fantastic vegetarian recipes.
Not only is Tommy Miah a Bangladeshi-born British chef and owner of the Raj restaurant in Edinburgh but he is also ambassador of The Sreepur Village charity.
Tommy Miah founded the International Indian Chef of the Year Competition, which attracts 5000 entrants from around the world and in doing so promotes innovation and quality in Indian cooking as well as an opportunity to raise funds for The Sreepur Village.
Tommy Miah has many achievements which include producing the world's largest curry enough to feed 10,000, delivering a curry lunch-box to 10 Downing Street for John Major's 50th birthday, and the most recent one was in 2017, when he received an MBE for his services to the hospitality industry and charity.
Tommy Miah's 35-year contribution to The Sreepur Village charity has helped us raise awareness for all the vulnerable women and children in our village in rural Bangladesh. Currently, The Sreepur Village provides shelter, education, life-skills, training and a health clinic for over 200 mothers and 500 children from some of Bangladesh's most deprived communities. Raising awareness and funds for these most vulnerable people will help them to gain the confidence and skills needed for living independently in today's challenging world.
Tommy Miah’s Cauli Balti Recipe:
Vegetable oil
1 Bay leaf
3 Cloves
2 Cardamoms, ground
3 Large onions, finely chopped
1tsp Garlic clove, finely chopped
1 Small tin of peeled tomatoes
½ tsp turmeric
2 tsp coriander, ground
½ tsp cumin, ground
2 green chilis, chopped length ways
Salt, to taste
2 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped
Preparation:
Out of the blue, at the tender age of 13, Chia found herself sitting on a bridal stage, about to marry a man who was 35 years old. Her parents had arranged the match, finding the man from their nearby locality in Bhairab.
He was a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) businessman who occasionally sold vegetables and fruits on the street. Chia's aspirations and youthful dreams were abruptly interrupted by this sudden marriage. Instead of books, she found herself with kitchen utensils in her hands. She went from feeling like a princess to becoming a servant overnight.
Sumi's journey is a testament to her resilience and determination to create a better life for herself and her child. Her success serves as an inspiration to all those facing adversity, reminding us of the transformative power of support, training, and the opportunity to rebuild one's life.