British-Pakistani chef Sonia Imran has been crowned the winner of the National Curry Week Cook-Off 2025, held at Covent Garden, London.
The annual event brought together six of the country’s most talented home chefs to celebrate the heritage and evolution of curry in British cuisine.
The competition featured judges from MasterChef, The Great British Menu, and renowned British restaurants. Its aim was to honor the historical influence, innovation, and South Asian flavors that have shaped the nation’s culinary identity.
First launched in 1998, the Cook-Off recognizes chefs and communities that have enriched Britain’s food culture with South Asian tastes and traditions.
Sonia Imran delivered an exceptional performance, winning four out of five challenging rounds, each requiring participants to create a surprise dish under strict time limits. Dishes were judged on creativity, balance, and presentation.
The judges praised Sonia’s cooking as “a soulful yet sophisticated fusion of South Asian flavors”, commending her for striking the perfect harmony between authenticity and modern culinary technique.
In a heartwarming gesture, Sonia donated her £1,000 prize to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.
Professionally, Sonia Imran serves as a Senior IT Project Delivery Manager at a UK government department but has nurtured a lifelong passion for cooking. Through her social media platforms, she shares simple yet elegant Pakistani and South Asian recipes, followed and admired by thousands.
In an interview, Sonia described the competition as “both inspiring and challenging.”
“Cooking has always been a way for me to express love and connection,” she said. “I grew up in Lahore, where our home was filled with laughter, warmth, and the aroma of food.
My mother was my greatest teacher — she showed me that cooking is not just about taste, but about love and togetherness.”
She added that the competition celebrates Britain’s deep cultural connection with curry, and she felt honored that her representation of Pakistani and South Asian cuisine received such recognition on a global stage.
