The UK's love afair with Indian cuisine shows no signs of abating. And why would it? Who can resist a spicy curry, comforting dhal, or fragrant chutneys. Take a class and soon you'll be cooking authentic Indian quicker than you can say 'chapati'.
London and surrounds
Ren's Kitchen
T: 07880 548 227 Email
Edgware, north London
Ren creates intimate, bespoke classes, and finds out about your culinary skills, food likes and dislikes to create a customised class just for you. Students also cook – these classes are not just demonstrations. Classes can be private or on a group basis but groups are small. Menus include curry in a hurry and dinner party delights. Cost: from £99 each for a group class; from £150 for a half day private class. Website.
Cooking with Monisha
T: 07949 434757 Email
Hounslow, west London
With over 15 years experience, award winning cookery writer and guest TV chef Monisha is an expert at teaching you how to prepare unfussy, nutritious Indian cooking. Her cookery classes, amongst others, include Indian vegetarian cooking, easy Indian curries and stylish Indian in minutes. Monisha offers bespoke classes for groups, and also runs food walks, school visits, children's classes for 7-year-olds and older, and one-to-one classes. Ring, email or visit the website for a schedule of classes and prices. Website.
Benares Kitchen
T: 020 7629 8886 Email
Mayfair, central London
Atul Kochhar, chef-patron of Michelin star Benares Restaurant opens his kitchen to offer a hands-on class with a contemporary approach to Indian cooking. You will have the opportunity to learn more about Indian cooking and the secrets behind his great food with the popular master class. This unique opportunity allows you to learn from Atul and his team in the Benares kitchen in creating three to four dishes for an authentic Indian meal. For larger groups exclusive classes can be pre-arranged for up to 8-10 guests, priced at £150 per person, and there are advanced classes for groups of 10 at £350 per person. Call for dates and details. Website.
Moti Mahal
T: 020 7240 9329
Covent Garden, central London
Currently running on two Saturdays a month (except December), this 2 hour cookery demonstration, plus lunch is great value for money. Ani, the charming head chef at Moti Mahal, talks small classes through some of his superb dishes, such as Tandoori chicken supreme with mint and coriander, crab cakes with lime leaf, saffron rice and baked yogurt with figs and cardamom. Guests get to soak up the atmosphere of a working kitchen whilst picking up some really useful information about how to cook authentic Indian food. The class is followed by lunch featuring the student's own freshly prepared dishes. Participants leave with full stomachs and a head full of clever tips. At just £70 per person, this course comes highly recommended. Spice blending master-classes run at £95 and special classes and bespoke workshops are also available. Website.
Absolute Indian
T: 07790 86999 Email via website
St Albans, Hertfordshire
Whether you are a kitchen novice or an experienced family cook, you will find that an Absolute Indian cookery class will provide you with inspiration and ideas of how to create authentic Indian recipes. Recipes originate from many parts of India but focus on cooking authentic, mouthwatering dishes using ingredients that are accessible to all. Learn how to cook dishes such lamb rogan josh, Kerala fish curry and Chicken korma. Classes run for approximately three and a half hours. Cost per person £75 which includes all ingredients and recipe cards to take away. Website.
South
Stirring Stuff – The Henley Cookery School
T: 01491 628 523 Email
Henley-on-Thames, Oxon
Professional cook Belinda Hill provides imaginative contemporary cookery courses and demonstrations for a range of global cuisines in a 17th century farm building. Courses include the popular curry club, which shows students how to create curry pastes, followed by lunch. Private courses and parties also catered for, from £65. The Indian curry club class costs £95 and for an extra £20 a friend can come along for lunch. More information can be found at their website.
The Gables School of Cookery
T: 01454 260 444 Email
Falfield, Gloucestershire
This friendly cookery school on the edge of the Cotswolds in south-west England offer a variety of classes, including vegetarian, Italian and Thai, and yacht, chalet and Gap year cookery courses. The Indian one-day course runs once a month and helps amateur cooks to understand how to produce those Indian flavours that seem so tricky to get right. Cost: £135 per head including a recipe booklet, food and wine with meal. Website.
The Vegetarian Cookery School
T: 01225 427 938 Email
Bath, Somerset
Southern Indian food is a constant delight for vegetarians; in Kerala there are many 100% vegetarian restaurants. Amongst other informative classes, the Vegetarian Cookery School run a one-day course exploring the exotic flavours of India and another one that embraces the Northen Indian region. The courses even include instructions on how to create traditional indian desserts. Classes start at £125 per person and all booking information can be found at their website.
North
Sharmini Thomas
Email
York, North Yorkshire
Sharmini Thomas combines her expertise in Indian Cookery and Psychology to offer a unique team building experience. Using NLP (Neural Linguistic Programming) Sharmini’s Indian cuisine transfers the skills of the Asian kitchen to the demands of the workplace. Classes include hands-on Indian cookery where teams learn how to make 1-3 course meals while applying team building techniques. Prices start from £90 for a half day event and £150 for a full day. Website.
The Cordon Vert Cookery School
T: 0161 925 2014 Email
Altrincham, Cheshire
Based at The Vegetarian Society HQ at Parkdale, an Victorian mansion in Cheshire, this vegetarian cookery school offers an array of courses including one-day and two-day courses and professional training. The school's new one-day Indian course concentrates on modern Indian cuisine, from vegetarian curries to side dishes such as smoked aubergine and chutneys. Groups of three prepare their own lunch, washed down with a lassi cocktail. Cost: £112. Website.
Cook in a Curry
T: 07771 564330 Email
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Food writer and private chef Maunika grew up in India is passionate about the varied cuisine. Her recipes are suitable for people wanting to discover a contemporary approach to Indian cooking. She conducts curry evenings showcasing how easy it is to cook Indian recipes that are full of flavour. Classes include starters, main courses and desserts using fresh ingredients and ground spices, plus bread courses, vegetarian meals, Maharashtrian cuisine and regional fare. Evenings culminates with a meal where students taste the dishes. Private courses can also be arranged. Website.
Scotland
The Cookery School
T: 0141 552 5239 Email
Glasgow, Scotland
Learn how to cook such delights as chicken tikka masala, fresh mint and cucumber raita and classic lentil daal at Glasgow's premier cookery school. The Indian one-day course runs every couple of months and costs from around £100. Website.
Do you run Indian cookery classes in the UK? Email the delicious. web editor