A Ruby Murray – or a Ruby, for short – is a well-known Cockney phrase for a curry. But why do we use this personal name to refer to the dish? And where do such phrases with names generally come from? Ruby Murray is not the only phrase in English that contains a name.

In the 1950s and 60s there was a popular and very beautiful young Irish singer called Ruby Murray who is now dead unfortunately. Her name was taken up in Cockney rhyming slang and used for a dish that was becoming popular at the time, curry.

Ruby Florence Murray was born near the Donegall Road in south Belfast, the youngest child in a Protestant family. She had surgery at six weeks of age due to swollen glands, and as a result, had a very husky voice.

Ruby Murray was the name of a lovely Irish singer – it's also rhyming slang for 'curry'. This particularly scarlet nod to its namesake blends deep, earthy beetroot with tender red lentils, chilli heat and warming spices, cooled with a good dollop of yogurt.