London-based British Indian chef and restaurateur Asma Khan has always been a trailblazer—whether through her all-women kitchen at Darjeeling Express or her fearless advocacy for equity in the culinary world. She recently hosted King Charles and Queen Camilla at her restaurant, who participated in Ramzan preparations by packing dates and biryani for donation. The king even took a takeaway of Asma’s biryani, impressed by its fragrance. 

With Monsoon, her latest cookbook, she turns that spirit inward, offering an intimate celebration of food as memory, healing, and quiet rebellion. “Women often light themselves on fire to keep others warm,” she reflects—a stark reminder of how femininity is often equated with sacrifice. Monsoon invites a shift in that narrative. It’s not just a collection of recipes—it’s a gentle but radical call to cook for yourself, nourishing and celebrating your worth.