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Sunia Imran, an emerging culinary talent, has been crowned the winner of the UK National Curry Week Cook-Off 2025, gaining national acclaim for her innovative approach, meticulous technique, and authentic representation of Pakistani and South Asian flavors.
Six of Britain’s top home cooks competed in this event, judged by renowned chefs from shows like MasterChef and The Great British Menu, as well as celebrated UK restaurants. Since its inception in 1998, National Curry Week has celebrated Britain’s deep-rooted love for curry and honored the chefs preserving its rich traditions.
The live competition in London’s Covent Garden comprised five intense rounds, each designed to test contestants’ creativity, skills, and composure under pressure. Participants faced surprise recipes to recreate, with one eliminated after each stage. Sunia demonstrated remarkable talent from the outset, winning four of the five rounds and ultimately securing the championship in the final cooking showdown.
Judges commended her for her sophisticated yet soulful take on South Asian cuisine, highlighting her exceptional flavor balance, technical expertise, and elegant plating. “Sunia’s dishes showcase her passion, heart, and cultural pride,” they noted. “She preserves authenticity while adding her unique creative touch. Her confidence, dedication, skill, and consistency made her stand out from the beginning to the end.”
As the new Cook-Off Champion, Sunia received a £1,000 prize, which she generously donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Professionally, Sunia is a full-time Senior IT Project Delivery Manager working for a UK government agency. She also shares her passion for home-cooked meals through lively recipe videos on social media, earning a growing following among food lovers nationwide.
In an interview with Geo News after her victory, Sunia described her experience as both “challenging and inspiring.” She shared, “Cooking has always been about bringing people together and connecting families. Winning this award is a great honor, but above all, it reminds me how food unites communities. Growing up in Lahore, our home was always filled with delicious food and laughter. My mother has been my biggest inspiration, and I’ve always loved exploring different cuisines. Hosting family dinners was our way of spreading joy and creating memories, and that’s what I aim to do with my cooking today.”
She continued, “This event celebrates Britain’s love for curry, and being recognized for my authentic Pakistani and South Asian flavors means everything to me. The judges challenged us to make dishes like Bombay pizza, grilled lemon chili prawns, chicken jalfrezi, chicken malai tikka, and Rajasthani laal maas. I finished each dish on time, with the quality of taste and presentation that the judges expected.”
Reflecting on her childhood in Lahore, she said, “Our home was always a place of laughter and great food. My mother inspired me the most, and from a young age, I loved learning about cooking and trying new recipes. Hosting dinners was our way to share love and happiness, which I still strive to do through my recipes today.”
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