Bhaji bedlam in Whitechapel as chef Oli Khan breaks world record
Oli Khan and his team are presented with their official Guinness World Record certificate. Picture: Cash Boyle - Credit: Cash Boyle
Chef Oli Khan has broken the Guinness World Record for the largest onion bhaji, with his effort weighing in at an impressive 175.7kg.
The bhaji is measured. Picture: Cash Boyle - Credit: Archant
The bhaji, which required 500l of oil to make, smashed the previous record of 102kg held since 2011.
Oli, acting in partnership with JustEat and Bangladeshi takeaway Surma, was elated as Guinness World Records adjudicator Paulina Sapinska declared the record broken at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel.
Of his achievement, Oli said: "I am passionate about this project, I have been working on it behind the scenes for five years.
"I do it for charity. Last year I did it for Great Ormond street hospital; this time I am doing it for the London Muslim Centre trust and the homeless.
Ingredients for the bhaji record attempt. Picture: Cash Boyle - Credit: Archant
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"This bhaji will be given to the Salvation Army and Booth House, alongside other places in east London."
Oli also thanked the team from Surma for helping him to break the record on Tuesday, February 4.
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Surma worker Larma Dadu explained: "We trained for one week ahead of this challenge. We began to prepare in the morning and finised after 4pm.
"Oli needed a lot of us because the bhaji had to be levered down into the oil using a crane and pulley. It was incredibly hard work, but I am so pleased we did it".
The finished bhaji. Picture: Cash Boyle - Credit: Archant
This record came after a previous attempt failed because the bhaji (at almost 300kg) was too heavy. This time, however, Oli's measurements were perfect: the bhaji began to cook at 234kg, with the chef estimating its cooked weight would be 184kg.
To break this record he had to follow health and safety guidelines, with inspectors from the council and private sector in attendance. Private health inspector Fergal Mullan remarked that this wasn't his typical day. A surveyor was also present to ensure accurate measurements.
Parvez Ahmed, who learned of the challenge through the Bangladeshi Caterers Association, said he was delighted that Oli has written his name into the record books. After five years of hard work, record breaker Oli must find the next challenge.
