Best vegetarian and vegan cookery courses

What will I learn? A lot of the focus at Demuths is on oriental cooking, be it Indian, Japanese or Chinese. You can spend an evening learning how to make Korean sushi, or half a day discovering the benefits of fermented foods and rustle up kimchi pancakes with kefir pickled vegetables.

Go Vegan at Lucknam Park

Expand your vegan recipe repertoire with this one-day course at Lucknam Park's cookery school.

What will I learn? The full day course (which includes lunch) will give you the chance to learn both sweet and savoury recipes such as ‘fish’ and chips with tartare sauce, Marlborough mushroom and spinach arancini with basil pesto and dark chocolate, peanut and caramel tart with passion fruit sorbet.

Campania and Beyond Southern Italy at London Vegetarian Cooking School

Based in Bermondsey, this exclusively veggie and vegan cookery school focusses on cuisines from around the world, be it flavours from Lebanon to Southern Italy. On the latter you’ll explore recipes from the region.

What will I learn? You can choose between morning or full day sessions and you’ll learn between three and 11 recipes depending on which course you go for. Whichever you pick, there’ll be live demonstrations, skill techniques, hands-on cooking and the chance to take home your dishes. Along with learning how to cook tomatoes (the Italian way), you’ll rustle up veg puttanesca and fennel and artichokes infused with lemon, however dishes do change depending on the season.

Veg Cookery at River Cottage

Head to the Devon countryside for a day of vegetarian cooking at River Cottage. Inspired by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s recipes, the day will include five practical sessions as well as a garden tour and a late lunch of local, seasonal dishes.

What will I learn? The first session will teach you how to make a classic vegetable stock before moving on to mastering mezzo dishes, fruity desserts, a seasonal soup and a hearty main course.

Vegan Italian at Food at 52 Cookery School

Whether you’re used to the plant-based diet or new to vegan cooking, this new for 2020 Vegan Italian cooking class at London-based Food at 52 will teach you how to create a feast nonne would be proud of.

What will I learn? The half-day course covers knife skills, fresh pasta making as well as introducing you to new ingredients. Three dishes will be taught, from pearl barley risotto and buckwheat tagliatelle to lemon and rosemary shortbread. It’s hungry work so you’ll end by eating your dishes while sipping a well-deserved glass of vino.

Our Lizzy

Our Lizzy cookery school, based in Malvern, is great whether you're a novice or an expert. There are a wide range of courses on offer from a taste of Thailand to tasty tofu.

What will I learn? On the taste of tofu course, all food is suitable for vegans, too. Tofu can be a tricky ingredient to cook with, as many vegetarians know. With this course, you'll learn all about the different types and different ways of cooking it, from frying to braising.

The classes are small, meaning you get a lot of attention and time to ask questions. The day starts with you preparing a tofu brunch while in the afternoon you'll watch demonstrations and make some tofu flans. By the end of the day, the meat-free alternative will be your best friend; you'll be cooking it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

The Essential Vegan at Leiths

If you’re looking to master vegan cookery, the essential vegan course at Leiths is a good place to start. The half-day course will give you the techniques and recipes you need if you’re following a plant-based diet.

What will I learn? The hands-on class will include a selection of recipes, starting with the basics of making vegetable stock from scratch and an egg-free mayonnaise, before moving on to dinner party-style dishes of beet bourguignon and tempeh skewers with spiced coriander chutney. Those with a sweet tooth don’t have to miss out on dessert either as you’ll learn how to make a chocolate mousse with tahini biscuits.

Vegan Cakes and Puddings at Demuths

For the ultimate in mastering vegan baking, head to Demuths for a one-day workshop that will teach you how to make seven sweet recipes including the classic sticky toffee pudding and almond amaretti.

What will I learn? Throughout the day you’ll learn how to replace eggs and dairy in your baking recipes and will be introduced to alternatives including aquafaba and chai batters, giving you the confidence to use them in your own kitchen.

Stylish Vegetarian at Brompton Cookery School

Take a day out to the Shropshire countryside and let chef Marcus Bean teach you how to cook a selection of vegetarian dishes.

What will I learn? You’ll start the day cooking two or three dishes for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll head back to the kitchen and cook two more dishes to take home. Not only will you leave with your dinner ready to go but you’ll also walk away with an expanded repertoire of meat-free recipes.

Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons

Raymond Blanc's luxury hotel in the Oxfordshire countryside may have a traditional focus on service and fine dining but it's not afraid to take that vision in contemporary directions. Especially where the kitchen is concerned. The restaurant has long offered vegetarian diners a tasting menu created with as much attention to detail as its carnivorous ones.

What will I learn? The cookery school runs seasonal Magic of Vegetables, Herbs and Pulses one-day courses aimed at helping participants make the most of whatever is in bloom at that time of year.

When you put the cookery school in context it's even less of a surprise how imaginatively its tutors approach plant-based cooking. The hotel has a two-acre kitchen garden that directly supplies its chefs with over 90 types of vegetables and 70 types of herbs. There's also an orchard, and the site is home to the National Heritage Garden, run in partnership with Garden Organic's Heritage Seed Library to showcase rare heritage vegetables. Blanc and his team of chefs know their onions intimately, in other words.

Vegan for Beginners at Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School

This class is suited to meat-eaters, veggies or vegans who want to learn more about plant-based cooking.

What will I learn? Based in Yorkshire, the workshop will give you the lowdown on how to design the perfect vegan feast. From chestnut, orange and sage wellington to sticky gingerbread cake, you’ll leave feeling inspired and spoilt for choice with a range of sweet and savoury plant-based recipes.

The Essential Veggie at Vegetarian Society Cookery School

If you want to spend more than just a day learning the techniques to vegetarian cooking, then the Vegetarian Society Cookery School, located in a Victorian mansion in Cheshire, is a great place to learn. The courses are hands on, with tutors on hand to help you through out your time there. Best of all you'll get to eat the food yourself!

What will I learn? Over the two days, you'll make a variety of dishes from soups and salads to dressings and desserts. By the end of your time there, you'll be able to cook a variety of veggie dishes and confidently plan a vegetarian menu.

Vegan Cooking at Mistley Kitchen

If you’re looking for plant-based inspiration in the kitchen, head to the ancient port village of Mistley for a one-day vegan cookery workshop. In a small class you’ll learn how to make the most of vegetables in your cooking.

What will I learn? This hands-on workshop will teach you the techniques, tips and tricks for both committed and occasional vegans with recipes made without refined sugar and mostly gluten free.

Dishes include Vietnamese summer rolls with peanut dip; flatbread with muhrammara and a chocolate mousse with banana pecan shortbread and ice cream for dessert. You’ll also get to try a selection of vegan wines over lunch.