Maneet Chauhan grew up in Ludhiana, Punjab, and brought her bold, layered South Asian flavors to the U.S., building a career that blends tradition with a modern point of view. She followed her passion for cooking to the Culinary Institute of America, pushing past expectations to carve out her place in the industry.
A James Beard Award–winning chef, restaurateur, and longtime judge on Chopped, she continues to bring global influence and creativity to everything she does. She’s also made history as the only Indian woman chef to compete on Iron Chef America and The Next Iron Chef.
Beyond the kitchen, she’s the founder of Indie Culinaire, leading innovative restaurant and hospitality concepts, launching a line of signature spices, and supporting causes centered on education, hunger relief, and women’s empowerment.
“Indian cuisine cannot be put under one blanket statement because each and every state in India has a very distinct cuisine of its own; what you get in northern India is completely different from what you get in southern India. What I tell people is that what it boils down to is spices. I think that’s what makes Indian cuisine so distinct.”
