A couple has turned their passion for cooking into a business which they now plan to launch nationwide.

Sunderland-based Kam and Nedhi Chera set up the Funky IndianWali at home, offering authentic Indian dishes and their own special spice mixes to food lovers across the region.

And the success has led to the couple launching their own curry club subscription service, with monthly deliveries of spice mixes, snacks and easy-to-follow recipes.

Kam had run a number of successful restaurants, which he was forced to give up due to ill health and when the first lockdown hit the couple decided to look at ways to still offer their much-loved passion for food at home.

Kam said: “Nedhi is a home cook but the recipes she uses are ones that are passed down from generation to generation so they are absolutely authentic. 

“At the same time the food that we create is healthy Indian food, nothing like some of the heavy, oily dishes that are sometimes associated with this cuisine.”

The couple realised the potential after Nedhi took part in a food festival two years ago, where her masterclass gained her a huge audience.

Kam said: “We have wanted to develop that for quite a while.

“But being trapped at home for most of the past year meant that we were able to really work on our unique spice packs and recipes, as well as offering an at home delivery service.”

Now the pair believe the time is right to launch the Funky IndianWali curry club, which costs just £40 for a three month subscription including free postage.

Subscribers will receive a box each month – with options for vegetarian choices – which will include main course curry spices and a recipe, spices to use in two different side dishes and recipe cards plus two different kinds of Indian snacks.

Dishes that subscribers can make range from Lamb Railway Curry to Nedhi’s Butter Chicken to non-meat creations such as Masala Gobhi – a whole cauliflower baked in a spice sauce.

Nedhi said: “What we’re offering is the kind of food that we would eat at home, genuine Indian food that is cooked with passion and authenticity

“All that needs adding is some staple ingredients that, if people haven’t already got them at home, can be bought at most stores.

“We believe this is a fantastic way for people to have a great experience with us, improve their cooking skills and learn about real Indian cookery using gluten free, vegan friendly and 100 per cent natural products.”

To subscribe to the non vegetarian subscription click here and for the vegetarian subscription click here