When Jasvinder Karam self-published her first cookbook, 'Champur', in 2022, she never imagined it would go on to earn international recognition. (Jasvinder Karam pic) KUALA LUMPUR: When Jasvinder Karam began writing down the recipes she had spent decades cooking, she wasn't chasing awards or publishing success. She simply wanted to preserve a lifetime of memories, flavours and traditions.
Four years later, that labour of love has earned her international acclaim. "Champur: Flavours from a Malaysian Home" was recently recognised by the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, often described as the "Oscars of cookbook publishing". Karam's self-published book was named Malaysia's winner and will go on to compete in the Special Awards Asia category later this year.
It is also the first Malaysian cookbook to be published in French. The title itself - a westernised spelling of "campur" - reflects Malaysia's rich culinary heritage. The book brings together recipes inspired by Malay, Indian and Chinese cuisines, including 64 dishes Jessie has cooked for family and friends over the past five decades.
Karam, fondly known as Jessie, told FMT Lifestyle that her culinary journey began not with ambition but necessity. She was just nine years old when she lost her mother, Harbans Kaur Muker. "At first, I didn't get into cooking because it was a passion.
There needed to be food on the table and, as the eldest daughter, I just took on that role. "I was thrown into the deep end, and I just swam," she shared. Growing up in Petaling Jaya, her palate was shaped by the multicultural flavours around her - from neighbours' home cooking to the hawker fare sold just outside her doorstep.
Jessie's late father, lawyer and former politician Karam Singh Veriah, was the country’s youngest MP in 1959. (Jasvinder Karam pic) Her late father, lawyer and former politician Karam Singh Veriah - who became Malaysia's youngest MP in 1959 - further broadened her appreciation of Chinese and Malay cuisine by taking her along on visits to friends' homes across the country. Although Jessie went on to enjoy a successful legal career and eventually became head of legal at a bank, she later stepped away from corporate life to focus on raising her children.
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