Why to use spices in cooking

Why do we use spices

Today we have our ever popular Indian cookery class – which remains the most popular in our range.   We’re seeing more and more delegates who have been referred to us by family and friends who have attended other classes.  Thank you to those who have spread the word.    People often say they Indian food is complex because it uses so many different spices, in our spice trail we de mystify this complexity and explain in simple english the theory and practicality of spices.

We start this class by taking a journey of spices and we criss cross the globe to talk about the origination of spices and why they are used with certain ingredients, we’ll talk about the medicinal values and the all important how to use to good effect – The method behind the madness.

If you would like to know more about spices contact us here at the Academy and join in this very engaging and hands on cookery class – youi’ll learn much more than you ever imagined. 

Call Sonia on 01923 778880 to book your class

Chilli Makerel - Indian cookery class - The Cooking Academy - Cookery school

A passion for Indian Cooking

 Spice, flavour, chilli, aroma, masala, blending, cooking and enjoying good food!   Sound familiar? This is our comprehensive Indian cookery class, especially designed for Indian food lovers who want to learn the very essence of Indian cuisine. 

A Comprehensive Indian Cookery Classes

 This is a special class, incorporating the core principles of Indian food. Learn how to achieve balance in flavour and cook very authentic Indian food as eaten by real Indian people in their homes and all over India.

 Authentic Indian Cookery classes

Learn to cook dishes such as masala fish, makhan raja jhinga (king prawn) . Aubergine medley, (Aubergine without the biter water) , stuffed paratha’s, traditional lamb keema. Urid dhal bhajia’s , chutney’s and dressings to accompany the dishes cooked.

 To Book an Indian cookery lesson  

If this sounds like the kind of cooking you would like to learn, contact Sonia Basra at The Cooking Academy. Tel 01923 778880.  We currently have places available on our class running on the 25th & 26th September.

The Cooking Academy is a specialist cookery school that puts the beneficial properties of ingredients at the heart of everything they teach.   Food is a passion !  Perfection is a given.

Learn to cook real Indian food

A Quest for real Indian food

Real Indian food is a treat.  Ask anyone who has travelled to India to tell you about their experience of real Indian food in India and you’ll get a resounding thumbs up.  It’s like nothing you’ve tasted here in the UK in a restaurant or take away. 

The closest you’ll get to real Indian food is to learn to cook real Indian food yourself.  Join us on one of our Indian cookery classes and be astounded by the awakening of your senses, by the essence and flavours of wholesome Indian cookery.  

Our Indian cookery classes range from beginners with a spice trail, the one day Indian cookery class and the Advance Indian cookery class.  We also have Vegetarian Indian cookery classes as well as two day comprehensive cookery classes.  Whatever the level and budget we have a class to suit your needs, and most of all your palette.

You will learn how to blend real spices create your own masala blends and drum up tasty smahing food within 20 minutes (even beats Jamie’s 30 minutes cook off. ) Learn to cook Indian food is truely put into a new light as you very quickly become comfortable with you star anise, cumin, and garam masala.  Very soon you’ll be making your own…. 

Join us on the Advanced Indian cookery class here at The Cooking Academy – The home of Asian cuisine. 

for further information contact alison@thecookingacademy.co.uk

Creating spice blends at the Cooking Academy - Hertfordshire

Indian cooking classes in Hertfordshire

All time favourite class today – The One day Indian cookery class here in Rickmansworth.  We’ll be covering the all important ‘Spice Trail’ which is a comprehensive guide of the herbs and spices used in Indian cookery. 

This is an ‘all senses’ experience, where the participants will be touching, feeling, smelling, tasting, each and every spice to familiarise themselves with the taste and aroma to be able to distinquish the flavours in food.  The delegates will then go on to create several spices blends.  This is alchemy at its best – where the science of food crosses over into taste and flavours and creates a food feast.

Our aim is to get the delegates involved in ‘real cooking’ to grasp the true essence authentic food; following a recipe is one thing but getting underneath it, is what we do in our classes here at The Academy.  This is the real deal getting down and dirty – sleeves rolled up.

To book your place on our next class contact us on 01923 77 8880 or email cara@thecookingacademy.co.uk

Indian Cookery classes for beginners

If you’re beginning to dabble with spices and herbs to make your own ‘Indian’ then this course is for you. 

It is a very gentle but intense look at Authentic Indian cookery.  It dispels the myths surrounding Indian food and its so called complexities.  You’ll throw away any remaining  jars, you’ll restock your spice cupboard and you’ll look forward to coming home to ‘cook your fit’ with our beginners guide to real indian food! 

Not only that, most importantly this class will also change your mind set from the sloppy curry scene to real Indian dining – gourmet style just like the myriad of British Indian families eat every night. 

For more information contact Cara@thecookingacademy.co.uk

Real Indian food starts with The Cooking Academy

Indian Cookery class – Advanced – Authentic Indian Cookery classes

Today I’ve been taking students further along their journey into the delights of authentic Indian Cookery!  

This is their 2nd Indian Cookery class,  at least, with us here at The Cooking Academy, and tonight they will likely share the spoils of the day with their family and friends… if they’re not too exhausted from their experience.   It’s a very enjoyable class with no more than 5 delegates, giving it a certain intimacy of a dinner party, getting to know people better and sharing clips of their lives and their cooking.  It is a labour of love – I can truely say and I enjoy every class. 

I am glad to say so many students come back to after their first cookery class with us, to learn more.  That makes it a real honour for us here at the Academy.   Cookery classes are more than just a gift experience!  It is a journey and here at the Academy we work hard to ensure our customers enjoy every minute of it and are inspired to cook. 

To find out more about our cookery classes contact us on 01923 778880 or email cara@thecookingacademy.co.uk

Asian Cookery Classes – Using all of your senses 

Today we’re running a one day Indian cookery class.  Our classes are run in small groups – we want to give each  of you as much attention as possible.  All our cookery classes are entirely hands on here at The Cooking Academy. 

We focus on not just the mechanics of how to cook but also why certain ingredients work well together and the chemistry required to create different flavours.   By using each of our senses we learn at a much deeper level, the composition of each ingredients,  so that our understanding of its’ uses are memorable and more likely to be repeated when you return to your own kitchen. 

Our classes will leave you invigorated and entirely motivated to do more home cooking.  Even if you’re not particularly confident in the kitchen, our classes will remedy that, we’ll give you lots of hints and tips to make cooking as easy and as uncomplicated as possible.  

You don’t need to be an experienced cook to attend… just love real food and we’ll teach you how to make the most authentic cuisine this side of Asia.

To book a class please contact Cara@thecookingacademy.co.uk or alternatively call us on 0845 0 68 58 48 and we will help to establish the right class for you and get you booked on!  

If you want to learn to cook real Indian food, or how to make curries look no further.

Today, chef Kumud Gandhi will be teaching the essence of authentic Indian cuisine.  In this class he will be teaching his student how to blend spices to create mouthwatering flavours and how to change one to two ingredients to get a completely different flavour.   This class is a one stop shop for Indian and Asian cookery classes, giving you the mechanics of cookery as well as the subtle art of discovering your palette and learning why to as well as how to.  

The classes are small, the tuition is direct and entirely hands on, you touch , your feel, you smell, you do and you learn. 

For an amazing day of cookery, book now for our cookery classes with a very big difference.  Tel 01923 720 697 or contact cara@thecookingacademy.co.uk

If you want to learn to cook real Indian food, or how to make curries look no further.

Today, chef Amrit Panesar will be teaching the essence of authentic Indian cuisine.  In this class he will be teaching his student how to blend spices to create mouthwatering flavours and how to change one to two ingredients to get a completely different flavour.   This class is a one stop shop for Indian and Asian cookery classes, giving you the mechanics of cookery as well as the subtle art of discovering your palette and learning why to as well as how to.  

The classes are small, the tuition is direct and entirely hands on, you touch , your feel, you smell, you do and you learn. 

For an amazing day of cookery, book now for our cookery classes with a very big difference.  Tel 0845 0 68 58 48 or contact cara@thecookingacademy.co.uk