The city of Manchester, one day ran out of fresh coriander and it was all due to one remarkable Indian lady - Madhur Jaffrey. 🧵 
Madhur Jaffrey was born in Delhi in 1933. She would answer calls on All India Radio to act in plays. This gave her the acting bug.
After finishing her BA Hons at Miranda College, she decided to pursue acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London on a scholarship.
After finishing her BA Hons at Miranda College, she decided to pursue acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London on a scholarship.
Coming from a fairly well to do family, Madhur had servents at home, who prepared food and she hadn't shown any inclination to cook.
But after a few days eating bland British food, she longed for her home meals.
But after a few days eating bland British food, she longed for her home meals.
She wrote letters to her mother, asking her to teach cooking.
Her mother responded with basics - how to make rice, how to make Dal, how to make simple curries.
Her mother sent 3 line recipes, but Madhur experimented remembering the test of food at home.
Her mother responded with basics - how to make rice, how to make Dal, how to make simple curries.
Her mother sent 3 line recipes, but Madhur experimented remembering the test of food at home.
She then went to New York to be with her future husband Saeed Jaffrey, where she started writing articles on food and teaching students cooking to supplement her income as an actress.
BBC2 had a slot at 7PM for adult education - and it was decided that it would be best to have a cooking program there.
They had a successful show with Delia Smith called Delia Smith's cookery course.
BBC wanted to try an Indian cookery show.
They had a successful show with Delia Smith called Delia Smith's cookery course.
BBC wanted to try an Indian cookery show.
Madhur was asked to audition. The audition didn't involve any cooking... Madhur had to act like she was cooking and enacted reactions such as "Ooh that was nice", "It smells really good here.."
BBC liked what they saw and Madhur Jaffrey's Indian cooking was commissioned.
BBC liked what they saw and Madhur Jaffrey's Indian cooking was commissioned.
With her gracious presence and calm demeanour, Madhur Jaffrey's program was a big hit.
She educated Britain that Indian cooking was more nuanced than "Hot, Hotter, Hottest" spices.
Restricting herself to just 5 to 6 spices, Madhur demystified Indian cooking.
She educated Britain that Indian cooking was more nuanced than "Hot, Hotter, Hottest" spices.
Restricting herself to just 5 to 6 spices, Madhur demystified Indian cooking.
In one of her most popular episodes, she prepared Lemony Chicken with Fresh Coriander.
The next day millions tried to create the recipe at home and it was reported that the city of Manchester ran out of Cilantro or Coriander.
The next day millions tried to create the recipe at home and it was reported that the city of Manchester ran out of Cilantro or Coriander.
One of the major impact of Madhur's cooking was that UK supermarkets started to carry Indian spices and ingredients more regularly.
It also inspired the UK South Asian diaspora as they saw one of their own being celebrated.
It also inspired the UK South Asian diaspora as they saw one of their own being celebrated.
Bonus:
The great chef @ranveerbrar is trying to make Dhaniya the national herb. You can support him here.
change.org/p/i-request-pa…
The great chef @ranveerbrar is trying to make Dhaniya the national herb. You can support him here.
change.org/p/i-request-pa…
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