Top Virtual Cooking Classes Around The World

Food is one of the best ways to get to know a local culture.  Cooking classes are an immersive experience that allows you to learn new skills, meet fellow travellers, and of course eat delicious food.  What if you’re not able to travel right now or feeling nostalgic?  Well the good news is that there are incredible virtual cooking classes that will bring the world right to your kitchen.

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Jump to your country of interest for your next travel virtual experience.

13 world-class virtual cooking classes you need to try

You probably haven’t heard of many of these.  Normally, you can look up the activities in a city you’re travelling to and pick the top cooking classes that show up.  Now that you’re home, where do you go to find these experiences?

Virtual cooking classes are tailored for the at-home experience which means that the recipes are custom tailored to use the most common of ingredients and cooking supplies you should have at home.  Other than that, you’ll need an internet connection and a laptop, phone, or tablet to do your one-on-one or group session with the teacher.

Here’s a curated list of classes that have a travel flavour to them.  Enjoy!

1. Moroccan cuisine from Marrakech

Omar and his sister create a fantastic duo and show you how to create the most famous dishes in Morocco.  You’ll have your choice of cooking:

• Tanjia marrakchia
• Couscous
• Tajine (veggie, fish, chicken or lamb)
• Salads
• Moroccan Harira soup
• Moroccan Pancakes (sweet or savoury)

In addition to cooking together with them, you’ll have personal experience with them learning about Moroccan culture.

What’s nice is that you can invite 9 other friends or family as part of the booking and there’s no real time limitation so you won’t feel rushed.

At the end of the class, you’ll also receive a written recipe so you can continue making them in the future.

2. Pastel de Nata from Lisbon

Learn from Chef João, the 5th generation chef and baker behind Pastelaria Batalha in Lisbon.  In this virtual cooking class, he’ll teach you how to make Portuguese custard tarts (aka Pastel de Nata).

In fact, what makes this special is that most bakeries keep their recipe and techniques a secret but this is the only one that will show you how to make this puff pastry like a pro at home.

Adapted from their in-person cooking class, they’ve adjusted the recipe to use staple ingredients and a recipe that’s easy to follow.

The cooking class will take place over Zoom and your whole household can participate.

I had a chance to join João’s class and was so impressed by the experience.  Through Zoom, he was able to keep an eye on what we were doing and was able guide us through the challenging bits and provide tips for success.

It was a challenge but the Pastel de Nata turned out amazing and was so delicious.  The puff pastry needs some work and we’ll be ordering proper egg tart molds but we can’t wait to try it again.

What I love is that I now have the recipe and know-how to do it for whenever I’m craving Pastel de Nata or cooking for a special event.

They also provide post-class email support if you have any questions.

If you prefer to watch a recorded step-by-step course rather than participating in a live workshop, you can also purchase their online course on Udemy.

3. Make Ragù with Gloria from Bologna

Gloria teaches you how to make a Bolognese specialty together from the comfort of your home.

Ragù is the sauce that Bologna is known for and it can be used with anything from fish, meat, or pasta.  All you have to do is let her know what you have in your fridge, or what you want to make and she’ll put together a custom class for you.

In addition to ragù, you’ll also be able to chat with her about life in Italy, her extensive knowledge of Italian wine, and also a bonus on how to make Aperol Spritz.

You’ll be guaranteed to have a good time with Gloria and her family.  You’ll also come out of it with new Italian cooking skills and perhaps even a few secret tips passed down from generation to generation.

4. The Perfect Belgian Waffles with Foodie from Bruges

If you’re craving delicious homemade Belgian waffles, this virtual cooking class is for you.  Join a local foodie from Bruges and learn what makes waffles from Belgium so special and different from regular waffles or pancakes.

This is a virtual culinary class that’s completely private for a group of 10 and will take you step-by-step through the process of making Belgian waffles.

You’ll receive a full list of ingredients and required equipment ahead of time and you’ll also receive a copy of the recipe so you can make it any time.

If you’re also interested in other traditional Belgian recipes, don’t be afraid to ask Patrick!

5. Butter Chicken Class with Gomez from Dubai

You might not be able to try one of the 7 best places for butter chicken in Dubai but Gomez is here to help you master it so you can have it at home.

In his class, you’ll learn how to mix spices to create your own custom blend, an essential ingredient in Indian cuisine.

With your friends and family, you’ll have a great time connecting with the chef and in addition, learn about Dubai, its culture history, and traditions.

Indian food always brings an amazing smell and ambiance to the kitchen! Learn about the mixology of spices and their history in this Indian fusion cooking class with a local chef. Gather your family & friends together and learn how to make Butter Chicken. You’ll be set for an unforgettable feast!

If you’re looking for a vegetarian alternative, Gomez can customize the recipe to your needs.

His cooking classes are so popular that many people end up going back week to week to learn other recipes from traditional malabar dum biryani to Arabic shawarma.

6. Carbonara, Amatriciana, Pesto and Pasta “al dente”

This advanced course hosted by platform Cesarine which specializes in cooking classes in Italy.

Your host and teacher will teach you to make 3 of the most iconic Italian pasta sauces from scratch – Carbonara, Amatriciana, and Pesto.  These are recipes that are passed from mammas and nonnas so you know these are authentic.

In addition, you’ll also learn how to make the perfect “pasta al dente”.

Similar to other virtual cooking classes, you’ll be able to ask all the questions you want since it’s a private class and you’ll receive a workbook including shopping list and list of kitchen supplies before the class.

7. Fluffy Ricotta Cheese Gnocchi

Gnocchi is another staple in Italian food and you’ll be blown away by how easy it is to make at home with the proper instructions and tips from Italian experts, and the right recipe.

Through this class you’ll learn how to make sure your gnocchi doesn’t turn slimy, crumbly, or raw in the middle.  In your own kitchen, make indulgent and fluffy gnocchi made out of fresh ricotta cheese.

An official Cesarine recipe will be provided before the lesson.

A student recently said this about this class:

This was the best cooking class I have ever attended. We try to take a cooking class on every vacation, and we’ve had some very good ones, but Rosanna and Raffaele were such welcoming hosts that this was the best. They took us to the local market and worked with us to develop a personalized menu. They involved us in the actual cooking and I learned a lot. We had such a good time with such good hosts – and we ate more food than we could have imagined.

8. Divine Panna Cotta with Fruit Coulis

From the chef’s home in Italy, learn how to make one of my favourite desserts, the panna cotta.

Through their expert guidance, you’ll learn virtually with other students how to make an authentic panna cotta that will be restaurant worthy.

A guest recently reviewed the class and said:

It was an amazing experience. The personal touch of the host Elinda and her technique was really good. She was very particular about everything and very friendly. Loved every part of it and the dishes were amazing.

9. Spanish Seafood Paella with Chef Ana

Every time I go to Spain, paella is on my mind.  There’s a beautiful balance of rice, caramelized crust, juicy seafood, and all bursting with flavor.

Spain’s national dish may seem difficult to make but it’s actually easier than you think thanks to Chef Ana.

With this virtual cooking class, you’ll connect through Skype and she’ll guide you through step-by-step how to create multiple courses.  Your paella will include the creation of homemade shrimp stock.  To round out the class, you’ll also make a quick aioli and salad.

10. Pad Thai and Massaman Curry Straight from Koh Tao

The beloved Pad Thai is something that you’ll find all around the world but there’s something about having it from a Thai street vendor.

Chef Joy is ready to walk you through the creation of not only Pad Thai but also Massaman curry that is typically reserved for weddings and big occasions.

This virtual cooking class will teach you how to make both dishes.  You’ll learn the fundamentals of the balance of Thai flavours, plus you’ll have leftover curry paste for the year!

11. Cook Traditional Hungarian Chicken Paprikash

If you’ve been to Hungary, you know about Chicken Paprikash.

This authentic dish originated from southern Hungary.  As you might’ve guessed, paprika is a primary ingredient and its in this region where the dish was developed.

Hungarian Chef Beata will teach you how to make Chicken Paprikash step-by-step.  In additional, you’ll learn how to make dumplings and cucumber salad to pair with this meal.

12. Learn to Make Tomato Fritters from Santorini

Greek tomato fritters is a delicious dish that originated from Santorini but you’ll fid it all over the country.  What makes it so good is the crispy fried outside, fresh mint and tomatoes inside and of course the paired yoghurt for dipping.

With this chef from Santorini, she’ll take you through each step through Skype.  You’ll also learn more about Greek traditions and Santorini history.

After you’re finished, you’ll also receive a printable recipe that you can use again and again.

Again, this is through WithLocals which means that you can invite 9 more people to the class and they don’t have to be within the same household.

13. Malay Curry with Ruth and Ranita

Malay curry is something special and in Ruth and Ranita’s kitchen, you’ll learn a recipe that’s been passed down from generation to generation.

This virtual cooking class will show you how to make this curry dish with noodles.

At the end of the class, you’ll receive the full recipe.

Also, if you are vegetarian or want to cook a different Malaysian dish, they can definitely accommodate.

From a recent student:

We made the most delicious and nutritious meal. The mom and daughter team are so sweet. It will be on regular rotation for our dinners from now on!

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All virtual cooking class images courtesy of WithLocals, Cesarine, Viator, and The Chef and the Dish