Thursday, March 20, 2014

Indian Cooking Class: Part One

As longtime lovers of Indian food, Stephen and I were thrilled to discover that our local Whole Foods was offering a series of two cooking classes this month featuring popular Indian dishes, including sambar and gulab jamun. When we also found out that all proceeds from the classes would go toward supporting the company’s Whole Planet Foundation, which works to alleviate global poverty, we knew we absolutely had to sign up.

And now, thanks to the awesome instructors who shared flavorful recipes from the country’s southern region, we’re certainly happy we did! In fact, we liked this first class so much that we even headed back a couple nights ago for the second session, which I’ll recap next week.

Do you like Indian food, too? Here’s a quick overview of the dishes we learned to make during the first meeting, along with links to online versions that are similar to the Whole Foods recipes, which we were given as part of a printed packet. 

Sambar


Sambar is an Indian soup that can be made with lentils and a variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, carrots, eggplant and even an okra-like moringa fruit drumstick that I had never before tasted. Served hot and spicy, this dish perfectly complemented the masala dosa described below.

Masala Dosa


Along with our sambar, we also feasted upon Indian crepes filled with a tasty masala made from potatoes, onions, jalapeno and plenty of delectable spices. These were so good that I even ate two of them before the class was over, both topped with the spicy coconut chutney we also learned how to make. 




Gulab Jamun

Saving perhaps the best for last, our meal ended with a taste of sweet and syrupy gulab jamun, a fried dough dessert. I was so excited to taste mine that I completely forgot to take a picture, but if you click on the link above, you’ll see exactly what they look like.

Have you ever taken a cooking class before? What types of cuisine would you love to learn how to make? 

14 comments:

  1. We've not had Indian food much but this makes us want to venture out and try some!

    Jayme & Mendi @ Her Late Night Cravings

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    1. You definitely should! There are so many tasty dishes that are also quite healthy!

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  2. We've always wanted to take a class at the Sur la Table by us. The people in the classes always look like they are having so much fun!

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    1. I would love to take a Sur La Table class, too! They definitely look like fun!

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  3. It sounds and looks like you guys had a great experience, and so wonderful they give to a great cause. I would love to take a cooking class, I'm always trying to make the kids something new, but also something I know they will like! xoxo Happy Friday!

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    1. Yeah, it was really awesome, and I love the organization the funds went to. If you have a Whole Foods close by, you should check to see if they offer classes there, too. These classes were great and only cost $15 each.

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  4. i've never taken a cooking class, but an eating class? oh, i'd be all over that! ;)

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    1. LOL! Our class was actually in many ways an "eating class," since the instructors did the demonstrations and then let us spend a ton of time eating. I ate a full dinner, plus some!

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  5. That sounds like such a fun class to take. I've always wanted to take a cooking class!

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    1. It was awesome, Morgan! You should definitely take one sometime!

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  6. Yum! I love masala dosas and it is great that you got to take cooking classes with the proceeds going to charity. My favorite part is definitely eating the tasty results!

    xoxo,
    Chic 'n Cheap Living

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    1. I agree! Eating the results is definitely the best part! :)

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  7. I am completely craving Indian food now! I wish I still lived in Albany that way I could visit my favorite Indian restaurant .....

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    1. I know what you mean, Faith. I definitely still miss some of my favorite California restaurants and chains.

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