Indian food entrepreneur cooks up a treat for budding chefs in Harrogate

A Harrogate entrepreneur has launched a range of cookery courses at her food production facility with an aim to teach would-be chefs the secrets of authentic Indian cookery.

Monalisa Fathima who launched her award-winning business Saffron Tree in June 2019 is opening her premises up to would be participants this month and will run lessons every Friday and on selected Saturdays. 

The courses will be conducted at Saffron Tree’s professional kitchen at Follifoot Ridge Business Park in Pannal, where multi award-winning cook Monalisa currently produces over 1,000 chilled main meals a week.

The facility is equipped with all the essentials and using traditional techniques and the finest quality ingredients in her exquisite dishes, Monalisa will pass on her knowledge to the ‘at home’ cooks and share the secrets of what makes Indian food so unique.

Attendees on the six hour sessions will learn how to create curry pastes, grind spices, marinate meats and layer flavours to create a stunning four course Indian meal and will cover the preparation of chicken, lamb, seafood and vegetarian dishes.

Owner Monalisa Fathima: “I’m a great believer in the power of learning through observation and instruction, which are the same techniques that parents and grandparents have used for centuries to pass down traditional Indian recipes through the generations. This is where my passion for cooking comes from and I can’t wait to share it with others. With a range of courses to choose from based on dietary choice and ingredients, and with a maximum of four people per lesson, the experience is designed to build confidence in a fairly intimate setting.

“The overall aim of the lessons is to teach participants how to make a delicious four-course meal that I hope will become part of their own culinary repertoire. After perfecting their dishes, participants can take them home to enjoy and hopefully recreate again in the comfort of their own kitchen. The course will make a great gift for anyone interested in cooking.”

All course attendees will be given a recipe folder, apron, a traditional Indian spice box (perfect to store commonly used spices) and a branded Saffron Tree bag for life.

Lessons are open to groups of four and begin on Friday 10 January, running every week from 10am – 4pm. Lessons cost £195 per person and include refreshments and a traditional Indian thali meal for lunch. Gift vouchers are also available to buy online now www.saffrontree.co.uk/cookery-lessons