Shortage Of Real Indian Curries In Spain Inspires New Expat Aimed Business

British expats in Spain and France are to get authentic curry kits from a new Derbyshire start-up.

If there’s one thing that Brits living in Spain and France miss, it’s the authentic Indian curries served up all over the UK in takeaways and restaurants owned by equally authentic curry chefs. However, relief is now at hand thanks to an innovative start-up business run by two Derbyshire-born sisters, Nilam and Veena. Curry on Cooking was conceived when Nilam moved to Spain and discovered Indian curries were not on the menu due to Spain’s lack of historic ties with the sub-continent.

The few curry restaurants in existence served expensive, unsatisfying versions of real Indian curries, giving Veena the idea of a potentially very successful business. Giving up her job as BBC Radio Derby’s mid-morning producer, she set up her new enterprise along with Nilam and produced six curry kits containing everything necessary to cook up a genuine Indian curry. Calling themselves the Spice Sisters, the pair also designed the packs, using the motto KISS – Keep It Simple, Sister.

The pair are due to star in Channel Five’s Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun show which gives insights into British expats who’ve exchanged their humdrum British lives for sunny Spain. The Spice Sisters will be shown selling their kits to curry-starved UK expats, giving Indian cooking lessons and hosting taster sessions. The pair see their new business as a mission to provide real Indian food as a much-missed taste of home to hungry expats, as well as busting the myth that genuine Indian curries are unhealthy.