IT MAY be Britain’s favourite dish, but chicken tikka masala was strictly off the menu at the Indian Chef of the Year 2011 contest.

Instead, top curry chefs from across the country created a range of innovative dishes to show just how far the cuisine has come.

Traditional curry menu items like onion bhajee and lamb bhuna made way for dishes like Batera shakuti (whole quail with chick peas) and Bangladeshi ayre chula (boneless fish steaks cooked in lime and mixed spices).

Seven cooks went head-to-head at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College yesterday for the first leg of the inaugural contest.

And with temperatures soaring above 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the kitchen, they had to perform at their best, even under the eagle eyes of the judging panel.

The four winners of the heat were Arzoo Miah, from Arzoo’s in Bicester, Nazrul Islam from Malika’s in Cowley, Sajal Debnath from Raburchi in Gloucester and Rama Miah, from Rufa’s in Swindon.

The competition was launched last month by Muhammed Ali, head chef of Karma restaurant in Cowley.

He said: “It was a brilliant start to the competition. The standard was so high and the modern Indian food on display showed just how much it has evolved over the years.

“When I won the International Indian Chef of the Year Competition last year I was amazed by the response I got and the way it raised my profile.

“I want this national contest to do the same for these cooks, and many more in the future as it gets bigger and bigger.”

Out of the 27 entrants – there are two subsequent legs in Banbury – nine will go through to a grand final on June 29 at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College’s Banbury campus.

A public black-tie dinner will be held that night in Oxford, where the winner will receive their award.

Chefs flying the flag for Oxfordshire battled rivals who travelled to Oxford for the contest.

Majidul Hoque, head chef of the Bengal Tandoori in Botley Road, Oxford, said he was putting everything in to the competition. He said: “I am excited to be here. I am confident about the quality of my food and I have worked very hard getting it prepared.”

Lord Mayor of Oxford John Goddard, who was one of the judges, said the competition was setting a very high standard.