New London pop-up trying to change curry's unhealthy reputation

A chef is aiming to shed curry’s unhealthy image by using superfood ingredients and a “lost Indian food science” at his first London venture.

Gurpareet Bains opens the Indian Superfood pop-up on Brick Lane next week, serving dishes using goji berries, samphire, kale and blueberries.

The cook and nutritionist, 38, told the Standard: “The classical tastes are there but it’s lighter and fruitier.”

Dishes include chicken curry with blueberries, goji berry pilau rice and stir-fried prawns and samphire.

The chef, whose celebrity fans are said to include Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Evans, explained: “Particularly north Indian food tends to have a lot of fat, so that had to be reduced down. And we cook it for a lot less time so as not to kill the health benefits.”

He also looked into the ancient ayurvedic — “science of life” — system to boost antioxidant levels in food.

“Cinnamon is up to 300 times more anti-oxidising than grapes. I created a cuisine with more spices for the antioxidant value than we’d usually use.”

Mr Bains admits not everyone accepts his food: “I’d get funny looks from my mum. She was horrified at the kind of stuff that went in there.

“The blueberry curry is popular with everyone, but there are dishes a traditionalist from the Punjab wouldn’t like.”

The pop-up runs throughout July.

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