Indian Cooking Experience Tour

                                            A base for any Indian dish, wet red masala paste, and onion!

Indian food is among the most popular in the world because of its flavorful dishes that are unquestionably spicy and its vivid, colorful colors and textures! Indian food is genuinely hearty and focused on the family; the generous servings are ideal for get-togethers and weddings.

A nation's people are its cuisine, and you can't experience a country entirely unless you experience its people! Grab a platter and indulge in a South African culinary adventure that honors Indian tradition!

The first place to start is the historic oriental plaza, a shopping center that sells everything Indian, from samosas to fabric. Owned by Indian families, the center has thousands of stores. The plaza, as it is known, welcomes thousands of customers every day, the majority of whom are Indian and mostly reside in the surrounding areas. They come for spices, fabrics, carpets, and even just a pair of shoes.

Business owners, particularly fashion designers looking for a range of fabrics, also reside in the plaza! Nonetheless, the majority of South Africans continue to love visiting the plaza. A small booth inside the plaza that offered handcrafted baskets and fake flowers

One interesting stall that can be found right at the center of the oriental plaza, is called samosa den, a den full of the yummiest bites!

This cooking experience was shared by eight (8) great visitors. They were a thoughtful, open-minded, eager, and cheerful group. Following a tour of the Oriental Plaza, where they were taught about Indian spices and the plaza's history, the visitors boarded a tour bus and headed to Lenasia, an Indian township situated in Johannesburg's southern region.
The cooking activity created a lively atmosphere where attendees could ask questions, slice tomatoes, make notes, and have

lots of tastings!

                          Cooking experience guests take a selfie and enjoy chili bites at the oriental plaza

The lovely Sabera helped with the cooking experience. She began cooking when she was 11 years old, and her working mother left her at home alone with just a piece of paper with instructions. Because Sabera always had a curiosity about food and observed her mother cooking, she was able to navigate the kitchen on her own without any assistance.

When I asked Sabera what goes into a delicious dish, she said it requires a lot of love and a little heat. She was holding a bowl of crushed onions and chilies.

The cooking experience tour started with a lesson on the origin of spices, most spices can be found in the wild. Indian cooking is known to be very spicy and oily, but health-conscious Sabera has mastered the art of cooking with

minimal spices and oils yet still keeping the flavors!

Wet red masala paste. 

Masala is the hero of a meal, great as a marinate or making a sauce it brings out the best of anything

                                    Cinnamon sticks used in the rice

 

                                         Curry Leaves- used in every single                   

                                         curry, vegetarian/vegan 
                                         chicken or beef          
                                         curries

Basmati rice is plain rice that can be prepared in

many different ways, the fun part is that you can color the rice, yellow being a common color for this rice.





The most fascinating aspect of this cooking experience was how inviting and loving Sabera made everyone feel. Her love of food and people made the event very pleasurable. 

                      Guests have a look as Sabera cooks her wet masala and onion base 

Sabera prepared a variety of vegetarian/vegan meals using the famous onion green chilies and wet red masala base!

                                           Spinach Masala Curry- A favorite

The spinach masala is a delicious dish that had the visitors licking their plates! Sabera started by gently frying onions and green chilies in a hot skillet. She then added tomatoes, spinach, and a sprinkle of salt. She continued to stir the curry until it was done.

One of the favorites was the spinach masala curry; it was well cooked, flavorful, and had the right amount of color. You may serve spinach masala curry over rice!

                                             The guest holds a bowl of spinach curry.

There were lots of vegetarian options on the menu!
A feast fit for a king or queen, featuring pan-fried potatoes, balsamic rice, spinach masala, salsa, and two varieties of soup (Kari & Dhal), was served to the visitors.

I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful the meals were; I did not feel like I was eating vegetarian food. Usually, when I think of vegetarian food, I think of drab green veggies. It was quite tasty!
To give the feel of a genuine Indian living space, the table was exquisitely set with warm brown tones, a gorgeous clothes table adorned with intricate floral designs, and old dark brown dining chairs.

The guests were full of jokes and laughter when they arrived, and they were eager to eat food that would fill the house with delicious fragrances.
In order to really enjoy Indian cuisine, visitors chose to eat with their hands at the table rather than using knives and forks. This allowed them to suck off all the delicious food. It came as no surprise that the guests cleaned the dishes clear, as seconds were the norm of the day.

                                  Guests chat away after enjoying their meals

The group of friends took turns introducing themselves and sharing their triumphs, setbacks, and happiness. The visitors' occupations were somewhat varied; they included three general practitioners, stay-at-home mothers, company owners, and yoga instructors, but they all shared a passion for delicious flavors!

It was my first time tasting the Mugh, but it won't be my last. It is really simple to make: boil the mugh and set it aside. Heat the oil in a pan, add the onion, curry leaves, and jeera, and fry. Add the remaining spices and braise for a few minutes. Finally, add the tomatoes and green chilies and serve.

Serves well with rice or roti. It's a wonderful, easy-to-eat, colorful, and entertaining platter!
meals and socializing with new people

The pan-fried potatoes was another favorite

All of this would lead one to believe that the meals were hot, but they weren't. No one coughed or begged for water while at the table because the flawlessly fried potatoes were covered with wet red masala, and Sabera added salt and red chilies for flavor.   

The lunch was so delicious that the guests were overjoyed to receive takeout packets.
Their happiness was uncontrollable, and the room was filled with smiles and dancing.

                   The amazing 8, also stood up to sing birthday songs to the birthday girl!

And enjoyed dessert to mark the birthday and wrap things up. The delectable sweets were served with Indian tea, but I was a little apprehensive to hear the host suggest masala tea because I thought it sounded too spicy. However, the tea smelled great as she put it into my cup, and it was enjoyable to drink even though it wasn't spicy.

 



What the guests said about the cooking experience

"I loved the authenticity of the cooking experience and most importantly the taste of all that we cooked! Yummy" Tshego

"I had a blast, met lovely people" Khanya

"I loved that the food was healthy yet very tasty, meals you can't find anywhere in Sandton (wink)" Keke

To experience South Africa, you must experience its Culture, people, and traditions, all served on a plate through a cooking experience!