Doctor’s prescription for victory on MasterChef... kebabs and Kashmiri duck
A JUNIOR doctor who swapped her hospital scrubs for a kitchen apron was crowned the winner of MasterChef last night.
Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed drew tears from judge John Torode as she stormed to victory with an Asian-inspired menu described as ‘clean, crisp, refined and beautiful’.
The 29-year-old said she regularly had ‘no sleep’ during the BBC competition, which she juggled with her full-time job at Watford General Hospital and looking after her two-year-old son.
Indeed, so stretched was she that she could only practise her dishes for the final once before serving them to Torode and fellow
‘Beautiful art on a plate’
judge Gregg Wallace. But her menu of venison kebabs, Kashmiri-style duck and rosewater panna cotta saw her beat music teacher Giovanna Ryan and DJ Steve Kielty.
Torode said the dishes had ‘sparkled’, while Wallace added: ‘What an incredible cook and an incredible person.
‘Saliha’s flavours were always outstanding, but when she translated those flavours into modern presentation there was no stopping her. Her food is simply stunning – beautiful art on a plate.’
Dr Mahmood-Ahmed, whose family is of Kashmiri-Pakistani origin, grew up in West London. Her passion for cooking began at school, when she won the nationwide competition Student Chef of the Year at the age of 15.
However, she decided to become a doctor, and graduated from medical school five years ago. She now lives with her husband, Dr Usman Ahmed, and their son Aashir in Watford. Last night she told the Daily Mail she wanted to create recipes for those with irritable bowel syndrome and coeliac disease, drawing on her specialism in gastroenterology.
Dr Mahmood-Ahmed added: ‘I see lots and lots of people with these issues. If you can offer them food-related solutions, it has got to be a good thing.’