Five Dock, Sydney

classes: Indian Cooking • Cooking

5.0 (19)

Growing up in India, I initially had reservations about cooking, viewing it as tied to traditional gender roles. However, surrounded by the rich flavours and vibrant colours of Indian cuisine, I developed a love for cooking and sharing meals, inspired by my Mum's recipes and her emphasis on incorporating more vegetables into traditional recipes, instilling in me a deep appreciation for wholesome, nutritious food.

While my roots lie in traditional Indian cooking, my culinary journey expanded when I relocated to Australia 15 years ago. Exposed to a melting pot of cuisines, I found inspiration in blending traditional recipes with modern influences. Whether it's crafting comforting one-pot wonders like dal soup or experimenting with innovative twists on classic dishes like air-fried pakoras, and puff pastry samosa, cooking became my creative outlet and a way to express my rebellious spirit.

My approach to cooking values simplicity, practicality, and creativity, prioritising the use of fresh, seasonal produce while also embracing the convenience of store-bought ingredients to sustain a demanding lifestyle. I strive to strike a balance, ensuring that my dishes are not only delicious and healthy but also simple to put together.

I am here not just to share the recipes; but equally want to help foster a community of passionate, intuitive cooks, infusing spices in their day to day and promoting mindful eating practices.

Beyond the kitchen, I lead an active lifestyle, work full time and find myself to be very fortunate to be able to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Having met my husband in Sydney, we bonded over our love for food, wine, running, cycling, camping, traveling and reading. With the support of my Australian family and friends, many of whom have been my enthusiastic guinea pigs turned cheerleaders, I'm excited to share my passion for Indian plant based cuisine with the world.

Classes

Indian Cooking Class: Vegetarian Sharing Plates

5.0 (16)

14 Jul

Five Dock / Mobile

1 to 8

$100 - $120

Indian Cooking Class: Vegan Sharing Plates

Your choice of time

Five Dock / Mobile

4 to 8

$100 - $120

School Night Curry, in a Hurry Class

5.0 (3)

Runs regularly

Craft kit delivered

1 to 50

$25 - $50

Reviews

(19)

Gabrielle Asprey • Jun 2024

Anu was really well organised and enabled our group of 8 to all learn new skills and cook up some lovely food

Teacher's response

Thank you Gabrielle for the glowing review! I'm thrilled to hear that all of you had a wonderful time cooking up some delicious food! Hope to see you again soon for more adventures!

Lisa Myers • Jun 2024

A fun and great way for a girls get together. It was fabulous to be hands on with the cooking and learn a few tricks. Anu was great with explaining the cooking process and passing on her knowledge and tips. A fantastic afternoon/evening with the girls and great food.

Teacher's response

Thank you Lisa! Omg it was such fun to see all of you having a brilliant time hanging out together! Can't wait to have you all back for more cooking adventures in the future with a completely different course!

Angela Williams • Jun 2024

Fantastic evening, Anu made it so much fun and interesting. Food was great. Perfect way to get everyone together and contribute.

Teacher's response

Thank you, Angela, for your wonderful feedback! I am thrilled that you had such a fantastic evening Can't wait to have you all over for another memorable gathering!

Frances Buddee • Jun 2024

Everything was wonderful. So well thought out and each step explained, made it so enjoyable. Love having the recipes and and photos of the ingredients, very thoughtful and so practical.

Teacher's response

Thank you Frances for your kind words! I'm so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the class and found the recipes and photos helpful. I look forward to cooking with you again in the future!

Gabrielle Hope-Alan • Jun 2024

Anu was very professional. The class worked well as Amu was thoroughly prepared. The dishes all met the brief. A fun way to be introduced to Indian cuisine.

Teacher's response

Thank you Gabrielle for the thoughtful feedback! I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed the class and found it engaging. I look forward to the opportunity cook up more delicious dishes with you in the future!

Trevor Dutton • Jun 2024

Absolutely brilliant. Anu was very helpful and friendly and made the cooking session very enjoyable. Highly recommend this

Teacher's response

Thanks Trevor for your kind words! I am so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the experience as much as I did. Hope to see you again another time!

Francis Hennessy • Jun 2024

Anu was a great teacher, she had a relaxed way of explaining and demonstrating which made for a great learning experience and night all round. Highly recommend.

Teacher's response

Thank you Francis for your glowing review! Indian and that too veg food, means lots of chopping! But you were all over it! So impressive:) I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed the learning experience. Look forward to more lessons!

Sarah Dutton • Jun 2024

Anu was such a kind and generous teacher, she brought a mix of exuberance, knowledge sharing and wonder to our group and we would absolutely do this class again. Anu had 4 delicious recipes which are not your “traditional Indian”, but for that reason I admired the class so much more. She truly showcased all that Indian food has so much to offer, (even being totally veg), and that it is completely achievable even by those who fear the kitchen more than life itself! Please let yourself indulge in this class, your palette will thank you endlessly!

Teacher's response

Thank you Sarah for your kind words! I am so thrilled to see all you youngsters embracing the veggie menu! And you are so right, for anyone who wants to incorporate more veggies in their weekly meals, adding some Indian spices makes the food so much more interesting and it may seem a bit overwhelming initially but doing it a few times can provide that comfort! And I am here to support everyone through their journey of being an intuitive cook in which ever way they may like!

Evelyn Vernem • Jun 2024

What a fantastic experience! Anu was so professional and very well organised. We were a large group and yet she managed to involve all of us into the class with ease. The end result was 4 delicious dishes, each an absolute explosion of tastes and textures. Pani puri and Pav bhaji were my favourite. Thank you Anu! 10/10 *********

Teacher's response

What a beautiful picture of you and your daughter! Thank you for the fabulous review! You chose the best menu for the event! I had an incredible time too!! Looking forward to more events!

Paula Dutton • Jun 2024

Anu’s vegetarian cooking class was really good. Her selection of recipes for our event has perfect. She was very well prepared and made the evening fun. We cooked four dishes which complimented each other and had the best time learning to cook them. I definitely recommend booking Anu’s cooking class especially if you want a fun family or friends event. It’s a great experience and you get to eat delicious food.

Teacher's response

Thank you Paula for your wonderful review! It was the most enjoyable experience working with a great bunch of enthusiastic cooks. I am especially impressed with the younger generation in your family, who leaned into the vegetarian experience! So pleased that you enjoyed the experience and the food! Looking forward to more of these events!

Callum Smith • Jun 2024

Anu is very friendly, fun and was an excellent teacher! We learned how to make various vegetarian Indian dishes like Sev Puri, Pav Bhaji, Pani Puri and Egg Curry which were all delicious! As someone who isn’t usually interested in vegetarian food, I’m glad to have learned some recipies that opened my eyes to how tasty it can be.

Teacher's response

Thanks Callum, that's so lovely! I hope you will try these recipes at home and feel free to give me shout if you have any questions! :)

Shannon Vernem • Jun 2024

Had amazing food that we cooked and was a great teacher who made it really easy to learn :)

Teacher's response

Thank you Shannon for the amazing picture! I am so glad you enjoyed it! Looking forward to another one with a different menu! :)

Kate Norbury • May 2024

4 ClassBento workshops attended

Anu has a friendly, easy going teaching style and the meal we cooked together was delicious. Her passion for cooking is admirable. I will definitely line up for another class.

Teacher's response

Hi Kate, Thank you very much for the glowing review and for the fantastic picture! I am looking forward to our next class together!

Jane Greenop • May 2024

Thanks any for a lovely afternoon with great cooking tips, exploring new Indian vegetarian dishes, and time with friends doing something new.

I loved the Sev Puri - crackers with spicy potato and chutneys. Delicious!

Teacher's response

Thank you Jane, for your fantastic review! I am so glad you enjoyed the Sev Puri and had a great time exploring new Indian vegetarian dishes. It was a pleasure to have you and your friends join us for the afternoon. Looking forward to cooking up more delicious dishes with you in the future!

Gill Stapleton • May 2024

My in home indian cooking class was very informative. My friends and I learnt how to make several great vegetarian dishes that we can now easily add to the family dinner menu. We had a lot of laughs and enjoyed tasting all of the dishes. The relaxed atmosphere enabled us to ask lots of questions and Anu was gracious with her time and expertise.

Teacher's response

Thank you, Gill, for your wonderful comments! I am so thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the experience! Look forward to seeing you again soon!

Sarah Brown • May 2024

Amazing food, great guidance from the lovely Anu on what to do, my kids loved getting their hands in the pakora mix!

Teacher's response

Thank you Sarah for your lovely feedback! I'm glad to hear that the you and your family enjoyed the experience as much as I did. Can't wait to have you guys over again!

Shelby Stapleton • May 2024

Master chef… but in your own kitchen
This was a fantastic, fun and engaging class. I learnt how to cook a new and unusual meal, and Anu made it seem easy breezy. It was a great mix of cooking and chatting, and I finished with a delicious curry, that will become a staple week-day eat in my home.
Highly recommend getting a few friends together and making a curry in a hurry!

Teacher's response

Thank you Shelby, I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed the class! Looking forward to many more of virtual and in-person events!

Becca Roberts • May 2024

If you're looking to have a fun night with friends and learn some cooking skills at the same time, this is for you. Anu was a great host and made the whole process easy to follow.

Becca Roberts • May 2024

I had a great time cooking with Anu. It was really easy to follow along and the food was delicious. I would 100% recommend and I'll definitely be signing up again!