Understanding the mysteries of Indian Cuisine is in the proportion of ingredients used, the layering of spices and a keen sense of smell. Sharmini Thomas will guide you through the use of the key spices to create your own authentic Indian dishes. For more details on hands-on Indian cookery classes and online cookery classes, client testimonials and recipes, please follow the respective links. Below is a list of Indian Cooking classes offered by Sharmini in York, and vouchers are now available.
List of cookery events in York below:
- JoDa10
I first found out about Sharmini’s cookery school after reading in the local press that she had won a National award for her classes. I thought what a great present... read more this would be for my wife and I as we have done several cookery classes together. I managed to get us on a course in March run from a local school.
I have to say this was one of the best cookery courses we’ve been on. She is a very warm and welcoming person as is her support person called Helen. Sharmini has such an in-depth knowledge of Indian cooking and a natural way of imparting this knowledge to students.
Throughout the day we cooked several dishes that sounded complicated but in fact weren’t. Our fellow students were obviously keen cooks and we all agreed that the course was extremely informative, well run and excellent value for money.
We enjoyed the labours of our morning at lunch, and took home the dishes we made in the afternoon. Since then we have successfully recreated her dishes easily at home, and both learnt a lot more than we already knew.
We would highly recommend Sharmini’s cookery classes and you will definitely learn something new even if like us you’ve done other courses. In short she explained everything well and made it simple.
2022-05-15Resort819606 I was bought the vegan/vegetarian day as a present from my husband and children. It is up there as one of the best gifts ever!
I spent the day... read more making 4 curries, jeera rice and some poori (fried bread), ate some of what I cooked in the morning for lunch and have also come home with 4 containers full of food.
There were 8 of us there, you are partnered up but you each cook your own food.
Sharmini starts of by talking us through each of the spices, then demonstrates how to make the curries. She explains about layering the spices, waiting for the right aroma to be released before moving onto the next stage. We then went to our workstations and began making our own.
At every stage Sharmini or Helen checked on you to make sure you understood and had everything you needed. You also have the help of your partner if you think you misheard or are unsure of the next step.
The day absolutely flew by, we ran out of time to make the accompaniment but Sharmini demonstrated it and made sure we had the ingredients to take home and make it there.
She demonstrated an Indian rice pudding, which we got to try and the end of the day. Honestly, it was the tastiest rice pudding I have ever had and will certainly be attempting to make it myself!
You get a booklet with all of the recipes and methods in to keep, you can also use this to make notes on during the day. I bought myself an apron (really good quality) for £15. Sharmini also sells recipe books and spice kits which contains her own brand of garam masala.
So, I'm having curry for my tea and I can't wait to attend another class soon!
Thank you Sharmini and Helen.
2022-05-14Louise7423 I was bought the vegan/vegetarian day as a present from my husband and children. It is up there as one of the best gifts ever!
I spent the day... read more making 4 curries, jeera rice and some poori (fried bread), ate some of what I cooked in the morning for lunch and have also come home with 4 containers full of food.
There were 8 of us there, you are partnered up but you each cook your own food.
Sharmini starts of by talking us through each of the spices, then demonstrates how to make the curries. She explains about layering the spices, waiting for the right aroma to be released before moving onto the next stage. We then went to our workstations and began making our own.
At every stage Sharmini or Helen checked on you to make sure you understood and had everything you needed. You also have the help of your partner if you think you misheard or are unsure of the next step.
The day absolutely flew by, we ran out of time to make the accompaniment but Sharmini demonstrated it and made sure we had the ingredients to take home and make it there.
She demonstrated an Indian rice pudding, which we got to try and the end of the day. Honestly, it was the tastiest rice pudding I have ever had and will certainly be attempting to make it myself!
You get a booklet with all of the recipes and methods in to keep, you can also use this to make notes on during the day. I bought myself an apron (really good quality) for £15. Sharmini also sells recipe books and spice kits which contains her own brand of garam masala.
So, I'm having curry for my tea and I can't wait to attend another class soon!
Thank you Sharmini and Helen.
2022-05-14 - martinwP4506XW I have been amateurishly cooking curries for a while, but what I learned on this course has transformed my cooking. it's one thing just using spices, but quite another knowing... read more properly what to do with them !. We started with a talk about the different spices and their origins, then went on to cook a range of fabulous dishes throughout the day. It had a really relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere that I would recommend to people of all skill levels. I just went on my own and had a great time. And, we learned about and used Sharmini's special ingredient that brings all the dishes to life .....
2022-04-19J3307KYcolinr My favourite experience was eating what I'd cooked and loving it, then tasting Sharmini's version and realising it gets better with practice.
Sharmini has an excellent depth of knowledge and... read more the combination of watching an expert and then trying it out with the expert there allows a fast learning experience.
2022-03-20Professional468 We did a half day with Sharmini as a team. Everyone loved it. There were team building activities and then we cooked really tasty Indian food in teams of 4.... read more The food was delicious. Everyone learned loads about spices and improved their cooking skills whilst having fun and working in teams. We loved it.
2022-02-11 - I bought this experience for my husband for a 50th birthday gift in May 2020! Unfortunately, due to various lockdowns Sharmini was unable to go ahead. However, throughout the last... read more 18 months Sharmini kept in touch and ensured that when sessions were available my husband was given the option of attending. Finally, on November 2021 he was able to join a half day session and thoroughly enjoyed it. The way in which Sharmini engaged with the group was fabulous and the food was phenomenal when brought home for us all to taste.
Thank you does not seem sufficient for your professionalism during what would have been a very difficult time for you and for the amazing experience my husband had! He is incredibly eager to cook from your recipe book and loves the new skills you have provided 
Jude
2021-11-24 Sharmini and her team offer a wonderfully warm and welcoming environment to lean and participate. The charming atmosphere allowed individuals to easily open up creating an inclusive and interactive session... read more which I thoroughly loved and enjoyed.
I learnt a great deal in terms of the health and well being properties of ingredients, and really enjoyed learning about the origins of specific spices. Also, though I have cooked Indian for many years (incorrectly), I learnt a whole raft of new techniques that capture the authentic taste and smell of Keralan regional cooking. The food that we made on the day was the definitely the best Indian cooking I have done.
Though I did attend on my own, this would make a great couples gift (a number of other participants were together, and they had a great time). Also, I have read that the course can be used for Team Building activities - Personally I think that would beat building rafts any day of the week and would result in a very tangible result that everyone could enjoy 
mark g
2021-11-24Jude2303 I bought this experience for my husband for a 50th birthday gift in May 2020! Unfortunately, due to various lockdowns Sharmini was unable to go ahead. However, throughout the last... read more 18 months Sharmini kept in touch and ensured that when sessions were available my husband was given the option of attending. Finally, on November 2021 he was able to join a half day session and thoroughly enjoyed it. The way in which Sharmini engaged with the group was fabulous and the food was phenomenal when brought home for us all to taste.
Thank you does not seem sufficient for your professionalism during what would have been a very difficult time for you and for the amazing experience my husband had! He is incredibly eager to cook from your recipe book and loves the new skills you have provided him with!
2021-11-24