My name is Sanobar and I am from the ancient city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It is in the middle of the Silk Roads, which means it has been a crossroads for trade and remains a melting pot of different cultures. The food culture is very colourful, taking ingredients and flavours from many cuisines. My family is Tajik, so this is the food I have grown up with and will teach in my classes. I learned to cook from a very young age from my mother and grandmother.

The village where I grew up had cows, sheep, fruits and vegetables and all of my favourite recipes are based on fresh ingredients. I have nine siblings. My mother was our hero feeding her large family every day. Cooking for my family also brings me great joy and I would love to share my recipes with you. Palav is a traditional rice dish that in 2016 was designated ‘King of Meals’ by UNESCO – after more than 1000 years since its creation it has been recognised as part of central Asia’s cultural heritage.