She joined the Gas Technology Institute in 1975 and until retiring in 2013 held various positions in policy, external relations, and education.

In 1990 she launched The LNG Observer, the world's first publication devoted to liquefied natural gas.

[7] At the suggestion of a local restaurateur, she wrote Pakoras, Paneer, Pappadums: A Guide to Indian Restaurant Menus which was published in 2010.

"[12] Vir Sanghvi called Feasts and Fasts "a fascinating book because it overturns many of the layperson's most commonly held beliefs about Indian food".

[13] In December, Vogue included the book in its list of 16 best cookbooks of 2015 and wrote that it is "an irresistible edition to your kitchen shelf, the history inside is richer than any Indian dish you've ever tasted.

March 2023 saw the publication of The Bloomsbury Handbook of Indian Cuisine, coedited by Sourish Bhattacharyya and Helen Saberi, with entries by over 25 leading food historians and journalists.