Subhana is a fusion of Moroccan and Indian cuisine, born out of my personal experiences with both types of food. Growing up in a small town just outside of London, I was introduced to Indian cuisine through the homecooked meals made by my mother and grandma. When I moved to London, I found it challenging to find Indian food that tasted like it was made in my family’s kitchen, despite the abundance of Indian restaurants and takeaways in the city.

My love for Moroccan cuisine began on a trip to Morocco with my family in 2015. We had our first meal at the famous Jemaa el Fna Square. We spent about 15 minutes walking around and eventually sat down at the only stall in the square at the time run by a female. During this trip, we also visited the Atlas Mountains and had a delicious meatball Tagine, where the flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, and chili powder reminded me of the spices used in Indian cooking.

In 2018, I returned to Morocco and visited Marrakesh, where I volunteered with a local charity that worked with street children and a local orphanage. It was during this trip that I fell in love with the culture, colours, prints, people of Morocco, and the abundance of aromatic spices found at almost every store.

Since returning, I have bought myself a clay Tagine and tried a few variations of lamb shank, chicken, and couscous Tagine recipes with a twist. My family and friends seem to fall in love with these dishes whenever I create these, so it was the perfect time to start sharing them with the world.