Made in Hackney (a social enterprise cooking school)
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
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets (many ingredients are unsafe near animal friends). Bin allium scraps (onion, garlic, leeks, shallots, chives) as acids may harm compost creatures (same with tomato/citrus/rhubarb scraps).
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
Other Good Vegan Cooking Classes
The Vegan Chef School offers a course for home cooks that takes around 3 months, and a Vegan Diploma for professional cooks that includes scaling recipes, adapting for allergies, pricing menus and plating skills. Graduates receive a certificate for employers.
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.
Veecoco (Germany) is a membership site, run by two brothers, who work with the world’s best chefs and teachers. Take a free free 7-day trial, then get access to over 800 lessons from 23 courses. From Italian, Thai and Japanese meals to making vegan cheese and desserts/pastry.
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.
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.
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 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.
