Quick answer
A cooking class in Kandy is typically a three to four hour session in a family home, in which you prepare six to ten dishes of a rice-and-curry meal and then eat them. Many classes begin with a visit to Kandy Central Market to buy vegetables and spices. Expect to pay roughly US$20 to US$40 per person. Morning classes end with lunch and late-afternoon classes with dinner. Choose a small group of no more than eight, with hands-on work at your own station.
Key takeaways
- Most cooking classes in Kandy last three to four hours and include the meal you have cooked.
- A typical class in Kandy covers rice, dhal, three or four vegetable curries, a meat or fish curry, a sambol and pappadams.
- Prices for cooking classes in Kandy generally fall between US$20 and US$40 per person.
- Coconut appears in nearly every Sri Lankan dish, as milk, oil or freshly scraped flesh.
- Vegetarian and vegan classes are easy to arrange in Kandy, since most Sri Lankan curries contain no dairy.
Why take a class in Kandy
A cooking class in Kandy gives you something a restaurant meal cannot: an understanding of why the food tastes as it does. You learn what goes into roasted curry powder, why pandan and curry leaves are fried first, and how thick and thin coconut milk are used at different stages.
Kandy suits a cooking class for practical reasons. Most travellers have a free half-day here, the central market is excellent, and the classes are run by home cooks, usually women, who have turned a family skill into a small business.
How a class works
A cooking class in Kandy usually begins with introductions and a cup of tea, then a look at the spices. Where a market visit is included, the host meets you in town first and explains the vegetables as she buys them.
The cooking itself is done in sequence, with everyone chopping, scraping and stirring. Dishes are cooked in clay pots over gas or, in some homes, a wood fire. At the end the table is laid with everything at once, and you eat with the family.
- →Market visit: 45 minutes to an hour, optional.
- →Preparation: scraping coconut, making milk, grinding spices.
- →Cooking: six to ten dishes over two hours.
- →Eating: a shared meal, with recipes sent or printed afterwards.
What you will cook
The menu of a cooking class in Kandy is a full rice-and-curry spread. Parippu, the yellow dhal cooked in coconut milk, is always included, along with pol sambol, the fiery relish of scraped coconut, chilli and lime.
Vegetable curries in a Kandy class depend on the season and the market. Hill-country cooking makes good use of jackfruit, banana blossom, beans, pumpkin and leafy greens. Some hosts add a sweet, such as watalappan, or a demonstration of hoppers.
- →Parippu: red lentil dhal with coconut milk and tempered spices.
- →Pol sambol: coconut, red onion, chilli, lime and Maldive fish.
- →Polos or kos: young or ripe jackfruit curry.
- →Chicken or fish curry with roasted curry powder.
- →Mallung: finely shredded greens with coconut.
How to choose a good class
Choosing a cooking class in Kandy comes down to group size and how much you actually do. In the best classes each person has a board, a knife and a pot. In the weakest, a dozen visitors watch a demonstration and stir occasionally.
Reviews of Kandy cooking classes are a fair guide, although commission arrangements with tuk-tuk drivers and guesthouses also steer bookings. Ask direct questions before you pay. Lankan Stays & Trails works with a small number of home cooks whose kitchens we have visited and whose groups stay small.
- →Ask the maximum group size; eight is a sensible limit.
- →Ask whether you cook or mostly watch.
- →Ask whether the market visit and transport are included.
- →Mention allergies and dietary needs when you book.
Costs, timing and dietary needs
The cost of a cooking class in Kandy is usually US$20 to US$40 per person, with private classes for two at the upper end or a little above. Transport from your hotel may be extra. Payment is normally in cash.
Timing a cooking class in Kandy is straightforward. Morning classes start around 9 or 10 and finish after lunch. Afternoon classes start around 4 and end with dinner, which clashes with the evening puja at the temple, so plan that for another night.
- →Vegetarian and vegan: simple, since most curries use coconut milk, not dairy.
- →Gluten-free: rice-based meals suit this well; check the curry powder and pappadams.
- →Spice level: hosts will reduce chilli on request.
- →Children: welcome in most homes, with safe tasks such as scraping coconut.
Where it fits in a Kandy stay
A cooking class fits best into a second day in Kandy. Travellers with one day should keep it for the temple, the lake and the gardens. With two days, a morning class followed by a rest and a late-afternoon viewpoint makes a well-balanced day.
A cooking class is also one of the best things to do in Kandy when it rains. Kitchens are indoors, the work is absorbing, and the meal at the end is better than most restaurant lunches in the city. October and November, the wettest months, are a good time to book one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooking class in Kandy cost?
A cooking class in Kandy usually costs between US$20 and US$40 per person for a shared session of three to four hours, including the meal. Private classes cost more. Check whether hotel transfers and the market visit are included in the price.
How long is a cooking class in Kandy?
Most cooking classes in Kandy last three to four hours from arrival to the end of the meal. Adding a guided visit to the central market beforehand extends the experience to about five hours in total.
Is a cooking class in Kandy suitable for vegetarians?
Cooking classes in Kandy are well suited to vegetarians and vegans. Most Sri Lankan vegetable curries are made with coconut milk and contain no dairy. Tell the host in advance so that Maldive fish, a common seasoning, is left out.
Do you need cooking experience for a class in Kandy?
No experience is needed. Hosts explain each step, and the techniques are simple once shown. Experienced cooks will still learn a good deal about spice blends, coconut milk and the order in which ingredients are added.
Are cooking classes in Kandy good for children?
Many cooking classes in Kandy welcome children, who enjoy scraping coconut and frying pappadams. Dishes can be made mild. Ask the host about minimum ages and about the kitchen set-up, since open flames and hot oil are in use.
Should I book a cooking class in Kandy in advance?
Book a day or two ahead in most months, and a week or more ahead from December to March and in July and August, when the better classes fill. Home kitchens are small, and good hosts limit their numbers.