Atul Kochhar was the first Indian chef to be awarded a coveted Michelin star during his time at Tamarind in 2003, at the age of 31. He is now chef-patron of Benares Restaurant in Mayfair, and has been seen on the nation’s television screens creating some delicious dishes and vegetarian dishes on shows such as Great British Menu and Saturday Kitchen

Q. What made you want to become a chef?
Atul Kochhar: My dad ran a catering business in India and I grew up in that atmosphere. Mum has always been a great cook and I have two older sisters who both turned out to be fantastic cooks, so with cooks all around it was a very natural route for me to take.

Q. Why do you think Indian food is so popular in the UK?
Atul Kochhar: One reason is obviously a long, historical association with India. Also, over the years British people have cooked Indian food in their homes and it has become a part of their cuisine.

Q. What is the dish that you most enjoy creating?
Atul Kochhar: Recently I created a new vegetarian dish for my restaurant using bottle-gourd, which is like a squash or pumpkin and is considered a ‘boring’ vegetable in India. I stuffed it with caramelised onions and halloumi cheese, nuts, rose petals and then baked it in a very light korma sauce – and it’s now one of the star attractions on the menu!

Q. What are the challenges in teaching people how to cook?
Atul Kochhar: I used to teach at Thames Valley University’s culinary academy. Some students came with limited or absolutely no knowledge. Being a professional chef, having to teach people who couldn’t tell the difference between an onion and a potato was a real challenge! But I enjoyed it immensely.

Q. Which other chefs who work in the UK do you most admire?
Atul Kochhar: I admire Gordon Ramsay and think he’s an amazing chef. But the person I have revered throughout my career and who made me want to become a professional chef was Albert Roux.

Q. What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking of becoming a chef?
Atul Kochhar: If you believe that you can be a good chef, be true to that belief. Stay passionate about it, because this industry is tough and without that passion, you’ll be lost.
 

Find Vegetarian Cookery courses in the UK and Vegetarian Cookery courses in London. And to learn more about general Cookery skills, browse Cookery courses in the UK and Cookery courses in London.