India cuisine not just about butter chicken, korma: Neha Sen

Neha Sen continues to make newer dishes on "MasterChef Australia 5" with an aim to dispel the image that Indian cuisine is just about butter chicken and korma.

"I am very much Indian and it shows in my food. I take inspiration from historic Indian recipes (to cook on the show). I wanted to showcase to Australia that India is not only about butter chicken and korma. There are so many more things that India is good at cooking and producing," Sen told IANS in a telephonic interview.

The show, which comes on Star World, started with 22 contestants from countries like Britain, Indonesia, Australia and India.

Sen came to Australia eight years ago as an international student, and that was when she learned cooking. She started from the basics and today she rustles up variety of dishes.

"I learnt how to cook after coming to Australia. My mother is an amazing cook. But when I came to study here, I didn't have much money. Three months after eating out, I realised that I needed to teach myself how to cook. I started experimenting on long Skype sessions with my mom. I couldn't even make dal at the time," she said.

"But slowly it became an obsession and a stressbuster. Cooking became my best friend. I used to cook when I was happy or stressed...the journey became a hugh part of my life. I am pretty much a self taught cook," she added.

The 31-year-old has dreams of making a documentary, where she will showcase different types of food in India as well as Australia.

"I am trying to research some options to do a documentary TV show where I will be able to come to India and shoot food from some angles which I can show in Australia and shoot food in Australia to show in India," she said.

Neha further added: "I am one of those who came to Australia as a poor international student and am now a successful career woman. I have come a full circle and it is all through food. I feel if I can be an ambassador to build on Indian and Australia's relationship in some way, it would be great."