Top 10 Renowned Chefs in India You Need to Know
Indian food has a long and deep-rooted history, etched with rich spices, conquests, cultural blends, and stories of starvation and colonialism. The land of spices is also home to chefs who have explored this heritage and brought recipes from across the country into the global culinary landscape.
From Michelin-star chefs like Garima Arora and Vineet Bhatia to Home chefs like Tarla Dalal who mastered the art of vegetarian cooking, the renowned chefs of India experiment with eclectic flavors, countless and varied street foods, and heirloom recipes to keep the legacy alive.
This article will familiarize you with India’s 10 most famous chefs and how their work transforms people’s perception of food and cooking.
Top 10 Renowned Chefs In India
From gourmet vegan dishes and vegetarian delicacies to traditional fish and meat recipes, Indian chefs are known for bringing the country’s rich and varied cuisine to the global market. With their unique perspectives and deep knowledge of food and culture, these chefs have allowed foodies in India and abroad to peek into what goes on in a kitchen and access hundreds of recipes from anywhere.
- Ritu Dalmia
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Ritu Dalmia is an Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur who co-owns the popular Italian Restaurant ‘Diva’ in Delhi. With multiple cafes in and around the city, she is one of the most successful chefs in the business.
Her specialization in a wide variety of Italian cuisines – with her added, unique touch to each of them – has brought her critical acclaimations, positive reviews, and a range of publications. Although widely known for Italian recipes, her books consist of different European, Middle Eastern, and other Asian recipes as well.
She works as a consulting chef and was awarded the ‘Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity” by the Italian Government in 2011 for her contributions and specializations in Italian food and cooking techniques.
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- Tarla Dalal
You might know the name Tarla Dalal from her recent Biopic “Tarla” starring Huma Qureshi, or from one of her many cookbooks at your house!
A renowned Indian chef, Tarla Dalal, is widely known for her expertise in vegetarian recipes and her cooking shows that were popular across the country. An all-time favorite home chef, her recipes have been tried and adopted by around 125 million households, and her work is cherished by food lovers and professionals alike.
Apart from being an exceptional chef and a cooking show host, she was also a food writer and author with more than 100 books that have sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Dalal has received the prestigious Padma Shri from the Government of India.
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Often recognized for her recipes, cookbooks, cooking classes, and cooking shows on TV, Nita Mehta is a chef, restaurateur, and author. She has authored over 400 books, with some of her work bagging “the Best Asian Cookbook award”.
Her culinary school in Delhi – Nita Mehta Culinary Academy – offers multiple courses on traditional recipes, fast food, desserts, healthy cuisines, and more to anyone who wants to refine their culinary skills and expand their knowledge.
Her primary focus is healthy cooking. She prioritizes and promotes zero-oil cooking, diabetes-friendly recipes, and balanced food for children, and adds a unique touch to Indian cooking by blending it with the versatility of olive oil.
- Vikas Khanna
A well-known Indian celebrity chef, cookbook writer, restaurateur, and filmmaker, Vikas Khanna, focuses on regional cuisine from different parts of India and captures the rich and varied flavors of street food in the country. His cooking style is an ode to the deep-rooted culture and tradition related to cooking.
Khanna is a popular face on television, particularly recognized for being a part of MasterChef India since its initial years. He has made appearances in multiple Indian and international Culinary shows, including Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, MasterChef Australia, and Hell’s Kitchen.
His restaurants in Dubai and New York serve gourmet Indian dishes with a modern touch that resonates with the palates of all food enthusiasts. With several global recognitions and honorary doctorates, Khanna is one of the most celebrated Indian chefs.
- Garima Arora
The first Indian woman chef to receive 2 Michelin stars, Garima Arora is an entrepreneur, restaurateur, and a MasterChef specializing in eclectic Indian cuisines and combinations of traditional and modern techniques. Her creative and flavorful dishes are made largely with local ingredients, focusing on the richness and diversity of the country.
In 2019, her Restaurant made it to Number 16 on the “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants List”. She was named Asia’s best female chef by “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” and made a debut on the list the same year.
- Sanjeev Kapoor
A well-known face on Indian television, Sanjeev Kapoor is a celebrity chef and entrepreneur whose recipes are loved across the country.
He started his career after finishing his diploma in hotel management from IHM, New Delhi, and has since then received multiple awards and accolades, including the prestigious Padmashri. In 2017, he made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for cooking 918 kgs of Khichdi at the World Food India festival in Delhi.
Kapoor has authored a range of books on Indian recipes, some of which throw light on vegetarian dishes and no-oil recipes.
- Pankaj Bhadouria
Pankaj Bhadouria is a Lucknow-based chef who was widely celebrated after winning the first season of MasterChef Indian in 2010. She is the first ever MasterChef winner who has an official cookbook, along with two other publications.
Having hosted multiple TV shows, her recipes are loved and adopted by many from different parts of the country and beyond. Bhadouria’s culinary school is known for offering both professional and certificate courses for anyone who loves cooking and wants to explore the art and nurture their skills.
With multiple brand deals and endorsements, she has risen to be a popular face in the culinary landscape of India.
- Shipra Khanna
Winner of MasterChef India season 2, Shipra Khanna is a Chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur with successful ventures in Ahmedabad, Gujarat (House of Taste) and Delhi (The Darzi Bar and Kitchen).
She has appeared in a myriad of Indian and International cooking shows on television, including the popular show Food Food, and collaborated with professionals from different corners of the world. From Michelin Stars to local and home chefs, Khanna has worked with the masters of global cuisine.
She has received multiple honors and award,s including ‘Le Cordon Bleu, Paris’, “Women Chef Taking Taste Beyond Borders” by SCWEC, and “Best Television Chef Book Outside Europe” by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2017. Her books shed light on the regional cuisine of India, its nuances, nostalgia, and extraordinary preparations.
- Ranveer Brar
Ranveer Brar is an Indian chef, YouTuber, actor, author, and restaurateur. He has hosted several televised food shows and appeared as a judge on MasterChef India alongside other renowned celebrity chefs.
He rose to popularity after becoming the youngest executive chef at 25 and has had an eventful career spanning almost three decades. His books cover his personal experiences as a chef, his culinary journey, and an array of global and Indian recipes.
Brar’s YouTube channel has over 8 million subscribers. He launched a mobile app – a repository of his recipes – with easy and detailed visual and written formats that help aspiring chefs and food lovers access their favorite preparations without any hassle.
His notable restaurants include Morisco, Goa, and Kashkan, Dubai, known for providing an authentic Indian eating experience.
- Vineet Bhatia
Vineet Bhatia is a globally acclaimed Indian Michelin Star chef, restaurateur, and author.
He owns multiple restaurants in Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa, including the famous KAMA by Vineet in London and several Michelin Star restaurants. He is also the first Indian-origin male chef to have received 2 Michelin stars.
Bhatia has hosted and judged multiple cooking and culinary travel shows with millions of audiences around the globe tuning in for his unique takes on local cuisines and adding a touch of modern zing to traditional dishes.
He was appointed the culinary ambassador for the UK and awarded an MBE in 2023, making him a global icon in his field.
Conclusion
The culinary landscape of India is a tapestry woven with rich flavors, history, and tradition, blended with innovations and exceptional talent. From reviving lost recipes and carrying forward the legacy of Indian cooking techniques to pioneering modern approaches, the renowned chefs in India have introduced the country’s diverse cuisine to the rest of the world.
If you have a knack for culinary arts and dream of being the next big name in the industry, start your journey by enrolling in a hotel management course to discover the many facets of Indian and international cuisine.
The AAFT School of Hospitality and Tourism offers well-designed, industry-standard courses with hands-on projects so you can kickstart your professional journey.
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