Crooking doesn’t get any tougher than this
A LAG has been dubbed a prison MasterChef after posting videos of his cooking skills online.
The inmate, using the name Tahir Ahmed, has shown fellow prisoners how to cook an Indian meal using a kettle. Ahmed, who is serving a seven-year stretch in HMP Nottingham, says he began cooking his own food because of the poor quality of prison grub.
In one video he reveals how he has made rice, chicken curry and lentils using the heat from the kettle. Another video reveals his skills with a vegetarian menu composed of salad, mackerel curry, lentils and rice together with flatbreads.
He writes: “Not bad for cooking in a kettle”. His video attracted hundreds of views and dozens of supportive comments by prisoners impressed with his culinary skills.
One lag writes: “Not gonna lie that don’t look too bad. Prison Masterchef.” Another adds: “U my friend are officially a bad man.” Ahmed replies: “Thanks everyone for ur likes. Let me no what else u guys wana see”.
Other lags also complain about the food “inside” being terrible and claim the only way to survive is to get creative.
Ahmed then gives tips on cooking noodles in a kettle. He says Thai green noodles are the best option. In a second video posted last week, Ahmed reveals he has cooked a curried chicken leg and Bombay potatoes, with a side dish of salad and cheese.
Lags are allowed to make tea and coffee in their cells but are not supposed to use kettles as makeshift cookers because of the fire risk.
A jail source claimed last night: “Prisoners aren’t supposed to cook in their cells but we often turn a blind eye to these things providing they are sensible.
“It all depends on the inmate. Cooking oil in a kettle is dangerous and can be used as a weapon, so that is not allowed. “But most of the time you are trying to manage a large group of potentially dangerous and violent men, so you have to allow an amount of leeway with the rules. “Most inmates are content with prison food. Others like to be a little bit more experimental and we can live with that.”