Mrs Balbir Singh (1912 – 1994) was an Indian chef, cookery teacher and cookbook author.Mrs Balbir Singh website
/ref> Her formal cooking and homemaking classes began in

New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament Hous ...

in 1955, and her award-winning ''Mrs Balbir Singh’s Indian Cookery'' book, was first published in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

in 1961 to much acclaim and inspired future generations of Indian chefs and cookery authors.

Professional life

Born in the

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi Language, Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also Romanization, romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the I ...

, Singh was a pioneer in teaching and writing about the art of cookery in India. Well known chefs, including author, food writer and broadcaster

Simon Majumdar Simon Majumdar (born April 7, 1964) is a British-born food and travel author, and food television personality. He has appeared on many Food Network shows and is based in Los Angeles and London. He also judges tables on shows such as ''Iron Chef''. ...

, a judge on the

Food Network Food Network is an American basic cable channel owned by Television Food Network, G.P., a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks (which holds a 69% ownership stake of the network) and Nexstar Media Group ( ...

, regard her as the

Julia Child Julia Carolyn Child (née McWilliams; August 15, 1912 – August 13, 2004) was an American cooking teacher, author, and television personality. She is recognized for bringing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, '' ...

or Mrs. Beeton of India. After graduating cooking school in London in 1955, Singh returned to India to start her cookery and homemaking classes in New Delhi that same year. She taught cookery for over four decades and became an expert on the history, culture and science of regional and local

Indian cuisine Indian cuisine consists of a variety of regional and traditional cuisines native to India. Given the diversity in soil, climate, culture, ethnic groups, and occupations, these cuisines vary substantially and use locally available spices, her ...

. Her signature style of detailed recipes and precise methods were applied to dishes for all occasions including family meals, dinner parties, and celebratory feasts. In 1961, she penned what went on to become her enduring legacy to India's culinary heritage, ''Mrs. Balbir Singh’s Indian Cookery'', an internationally acclaimed book which became the center point of authentic Indian cooking for subsequent generations of homemakers and chefs alike. The book went on to sell hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide, and went through several revisions, recipe additions, and reprints over the years. Her classes became so popular, that in many circles they were a prerequisite for those considering marriage. Singh was also the first cookery expert to be commissioned by India's public service national television network,

Doordarshan Doordarshan (abbreviated as DD; Hindi: , ) is an Indian public service broadcaster founded by the Government of India, owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of Prasar Bharati's two divisions. One of India's largest b ...

, to present a series of instructional cooking segments and shows.

Notable recipes

Although many of her recipes were award-winning, a particular recipe of Singh's was also an inspiration for the world's most popular Indian dish,

Chicken Tikka Masala Chicken tikka masala is a South Asian dish consisting of roasted marinated chicken chunks ( chicken tikka) in a spiced sauce. The sauce is usually creamy and orange-coloured. The dish was popularised by cooks from South Asia living in Great B ...

. Ethnic food historians and authors Peter & Colleen Grove discuss various origin claims of Chicken Tikka Masala in Appendix Six of their ''Flavours of History'', in which one of their conclusions suggests that "The shape of things to come may have been a recipe for Shahi Chicken Masala in Mrs. Balbir Singh’s 'Indian Cookery' published in 1961."

Later life and legacy

In the latter part of her life, Singh combined her decades of experience with the then new desire of Indians for international cookery, without making a departure from the traditional, and always mindful to utilise produce and ingredients available in local markets, to present more than 300 recipes in her 1994, ''Continental Cookery for Indian Homes''. The book served not only as a kitchen companion to her book on Indian cuisine, but also added to her culinary legacy, as a reference and roadmap to Indian households wishing to broaden their daily food horizons. According to the book's Acknowledgements section, Singh was also inspired to complete it for her only grandchild Pallavi, a then new bride, "so that this would be her first wedding gift". Of the many hundreds of alumni from Singh's cookery classes, a large number have gone on to pass on their knowledge in the professional cooking world, and their teacher's inspiration and influence can be seen in many subsequent and modern-day Indian cookbook authors, restaurateurs, and cookery teachers. Her dishes continue to be experienced and enjoyed by lovers of authentic Indian food around the world.

Awards and honours

In 1959, Singh was awarded the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Award in recognition of her work highlighting the benefits of home preservation.

Works

* ''Mrs. Balbir Singh's Indian Cookery'' (1961), and subsequent revisions and reprints * ''Continental Cookery for Indian Homes'' (1994)

References

* ''The Flavors of History, (From corn to chilli to curry)'' by Peter & Colleen Grove * ''Mrs. Balbir Singh's Indian Cookery'', 1961 * ''Continental Cookery for Indian Homes'', by Mrs. Balbir Singh, 1994

External links

Personal website

www.Facebook.com/mrsbalbirsinghofficial Facebook page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Mrs. Balbir 1912 births 1994 deaths 20th-century Indian women writers 20th-century Indian writers Chefs of Indian cuisine Cookbook writers Punjabi people People from New Delhi Women writers from Delhi Indian chefs Women chefs Indian food writers Women cookbook writers