At first I thought, hmm, a cooking class in Thailand… is that really necessary? It’s bound to be expensive and won’t be any fun anyway. Think again! Thai cuisine isn’t just delicious—it’s also easy to recreate at home. You just have to get used to the unfamiliar ingredients at first. And the best way to do that is in one of the many cooking schools. I chose a cooking class in Chiang Mai. In this post, I’ll tell you what it was like to cook Thai food properly for once.
Why take a cooking course in Thailand?
Cooking courses are available on every corner in Thailand at reasonable prices. When you consider that you get to taste and eat everything and get a huge meal for the day, the cooking course in Chiang Mai is actually a bargain. And it’s fun too – at least I got a great group with whom the day flew by.
You will get to know the ingredients that you usually only see prepared and can later cook your favorite dish on your own at home: After the cooking course, galangal, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves will no longer be foreign words to you!
Make your own fresh Thai curry paste
Who would have thought it was so easy to make your very own curry paste for your typical Thai curry? In the cooking class you will be shown the main ingredients and which ones to use for a red, yellow or green curry paste.
Put everything together in the mortar, grind well and enjoy the rising aroma! You can add more or less chili as you wish and voilà: Your homemade curry paste is ready. With just a few simple steps, you can conjure up a great ingredient for cooking real Thai curries.
The most popular Thai dishes from Tom Kha Gai to Thai Curry
From Pad Thai to your own homemade curry: you can choose your favorite typical Thai dishes from a list. It is best to choose different ones in a group; then you can try them together. Super delicious and easy to recreate at home. We got a small recipe book for free with our cooking course in Chiang Mai.
Are you planning a trip to Thailand?
You can find more tips for this great country in Southeast Asia here
Cooking course on a farm in Chiang Mai
My tip for a Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai: Some providers offer their cooking classes on farms outside the city center. The area around Chiang Mai is super green and very scenic! This way you get a bit out of the city and can enjoy the fresh country air. My course even included a ride on a local train.
➜ Book your cooking course on a farm near Chiang Mai here*
During the lunch break, we were able to borrow one of the (rickety, but numerous) bicycles and explore the area around the farm on our own. Real country life in Thailand! The area around Chiang Mai is very rural and offers a great contrast to the bustling city. So you can get to know a little more authentic Thailand at the same time.
What makes a good cooking course in Thailand?
The following is included in most cooking courses:
- A visit to the local market before the actual cooking: this way you will get to know all the important ingredients in their raw state and will be able tobuy themon your own nexttime, even if you don’t speak the language.
- All ingredients for cooking and simple drinks
- A 3- to 4-course menu – you can often choose one of several dishesto cook. It’s best to take different ones in a group, so everyone can have a go at each one.
- A small recipe book with all the recipes from the course. So you can also cook the dishes at home. You can also find many of the ingredients in Asian supermarkets here in Germany.
You can take a cooking course in many other cities in Thailand.
You can find a good cooking school on almost every corner.
➜ C ooking course Bangkok*
➜ Cooking course Phuket*
➜ Cooking course Krabi*
The best places to stay in Chiang Mai
You’ll be surprised by the selection: There are so many affordable yet stylish places to stay in Chiang Mai. I highly recommend the Heyha Guesthouse!
It is located a little away from the tourist center in a quieter residential area. But you can rent bicycles there and you’ll be in the old town in no time. The owners, a young Thai couple, are also super nice, helpful and very hospitable: you immediately feel at home.
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