Learn to Cook Vegan: Top Virtual and Local Classes

If you prefer to learn to cook in-person or via ‘moving pictures’ as opposed to a book, here is the definitive guide to the best vegan cooking classes around the world – both online and in-person.

Cinnamon Snail offers fun easy online vegan cooking classes!

Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets. 

Unless you have a food waste bin (made into biogas), just bin acidic or spicy produce scraps like peppers, onion/garlic/shallot/leeks/chives, to avoid harm to earthworms and other compost creatures.

For tinned ingredients, rinse/remove lids (or pop ring-pulls over holes) then step on the can to pinch the inner rims together, to avoid wildlife getting trapped at recycling points.

Made in Hackney (a social enterprise in London)

Made in Hackney (London) is a social enterprise that hosts affordable cooking classes to local people (from youngsters to seniors). Proceeds raised help fund their free cookery classes and Global Plant Kitchens (an online toolkit to help communities worldwide do the same).

I thought vegan meant eating rabbit food. I never realised how tasty it could all be. I’m a changed man! Fred

This organisation offers a whole host of classes, some very unique including:

• Plant-based French cooking
• Zero Waste Meals
• Dinner Party Essentials
• Fermented Foods
• Czech Easter Feast!
• Budget-Friendly Cooking
• Soups with No-Knead Breads
• Ethiopian or Turkish Recipes

Made in Hackney also offers a ‘weekly cooking for your community’ class, where you’ll learn how to prepare 200 portions of healthy plant-based food for local people.

Many of the volunteers here, have gone on to find paid work in the food industry.

Can’t Make It to Class? There’s a Book!

We Cook Plants is the cookbook just released by Made in Hackney! Written by the founder, this colourful book distils 12 years of experience to teach anyone how to cook, no matter where you live. The 100 mouth-watering recipes include:

• Chipotle Mushroom Tacos
• Brazilian Feijoada
• Mango Kombucha
• Chocolate & Black Bean Pudding

Our Lizzy (cooking classes in Worcestershire, England)

Our Lizzy (Worcestershire) offers cooking classes with bed-and-breakfast accommodation near the Malvern Hills (so you can walk your dinner off, after making it!).

Prices include tuition, ingredients and a recipe booklet.  The day courses include various international cuisine (Greek, Mexican, Thai) plus there are courses for dairy-free desserts and making bread.

All About Greens (100 recipes by Michelin-trained chefs)

All About Greens offers an accredited ‘cook like a pro’ course with 19 modules, teaching over 100 recipes by Michelin-trained chefs. Again there’s an accredited certificate on graduation. From making soups and stock to stews and pasta, you’ll also learn to bake bread, and create no-egg cakes and bakes.

Brownble (fantastic online cooking classes)

Brownble is another membership cooking site, the founder’s medically-trained husband ensures everything is nutritious. From cooking without recipes to knife skills, you’ll also learn to bake bread and vegan cheese, and discover how to plan your meals. A portion of profits are donated to farm sanctuaries and plant-based food charities.

Veecoco (over 600 hours of video content)

Veecoco (Germany) is a membership site run by two brothers, who work with the world’s best chefs and teachers to offer over 290 courses from Italian, Thai and Japanese meals to making vegan cheese and desserts/pastries. Learn at your own pace with over 600 hours of video content.

Cinnamon Snail (super-fun online vegan cooking classes!)

Cinnamon Snail offers super-fun cooking classes by an award-winning chef that you can make your own home kitchen, no expensive ingredients, obscure technique or commercial equipment needed. From vegan freezer meals to a whole course about egg replacements.

Vegan Academy (online classes from continental Europe)

Vegan Academy offers affordable online courses from continental Europe. You’ll learn to cook street food, Italian food and make vegan pastry. Again graduates receive a certificate.

Plant Academy (tiered online classes from a professional chef)

Plant Academy offers tiered online classes, from a chef who has worked at top cooking schools. Ideal for professional chefs, Plant One covers knife skills, creams, baking and desserts. Plant Two shows how to cook from market ingredients (no waste), sea salt and seaweed. The founder has a recipe book.

Crystal Dawn Culinary (learn to make raw vegan cakes!)

Crystal Dawn Culinary offers online raw cooking classes, from a chef who can create beautiful desserts and cakes, without ever turning on the oven!