KARACHI: A British junior doctor of Pakistani origin has won the UK’s leading culinary competition, Master­­Chef 2017, the BBC reported on Saturday.

Saliha Mahmood Ahmed, 29, is a junior doctor and mother of one who beat off fellow competitors Giovanna Ryan and Steve Kielty to earn the title.

Ms Mahmood impressed the judging panel — John Torode and Gregg Wallace — by displaying a “class act” with a menu of ‘East meets West’ dishes inspired by her Pakistani heritage.

The winner said she wanted to combine her love of cooking with her medical career, helping people with special dietary conditions find their ideal foods.

“To be the MasterChef champion is fantastic and wonderful. Adjectives are not sufficient. This is definitely the coolest thing I have ever done in my life,” she said.

Ms Mahmood said her love of cooking was influenced by her family and she was also encouraged by a teacher. “I’m from a big Pakistani family and we use food as a way of bringing everyone together,” the report quoted her as saying.

“I had very passionate grandmothers who cooked traditional Pakistani food and my mother is also an excellent cook. We love to feed people — it runs in our genes,” she added.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2017