Private Goan Cooking Class with Local Host Rita: Market & Meal

You cook in Rita's outdoor kitchen and eat what you made in her home.

A private cooking class in Goa where you visit a local market with your host Rita, then learn to prepare 2-3 traditional Goan dishes in her home kitchen using family recipes, and sit down to eat the meal together. The experience runs about four hours and includes a welcome beverage, spice introduction, and the full meal. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice, and a minimum of two people per booking is required.

The experience

Start with a welcome beverage and snack as Rita teaches you to prepare masala chai with spices and herbs. Before the cooking begins, she walks you through the array of spices and herbs that define Indian cuisine, then takes you to a local market to see where Goan cooks source their produce: the vegetables, fish and aromatics that show up in the dishes you'll make. This is not a tour of a tourist market. It's the place Rita shops.

Back in her colorful outdoor kitchen studio, you learn to cook 2-3 traditional Goan dishes from her family recipes. The menu shifts with the season and what's at the market that day, but dishes might include rissois de camarao (prawn puffs), vindalo or xacuti (Goan curry), cabbage foogath, caldin (prawn curry with coconut milk), or khatkhatem (mixed vegetable stew). You handle the cooking. Rita guides you through technique and timing. For dessert, bolo mimosa (coconut pie) or manganem (a traditional sweet made with coconut milk) finishes the meal.

Once everything is ready, you sit down together in Rita's home to eat what you've prepared. The class is entirely private (just you, your group and Rita), and runs about four hours from start to finish. Rita speaks English and Hindi, and the experience includes the full meal, all fees and gratuities. If you have dietary requirements beyond the vegetarian option, let the operator know when you book.

What’s included

• Private market tour with Rita.
• cooking class for 2-3 traditional Goan dishes in her home kitchen.
• welcome beverage and spice introduction.
• the full meal you prepare, eaten together in her home.
• all fees and gratuities.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Hindi

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a free afternoon and want to learn to cook rather than watch a demonstration. The class is entirely private, so it's built for your group alone (whether that's two people, a family, or friends traveling together), and Rita adjusts the pace and menu to what you want to make.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Hindi.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

Who is Rita and why is she known for Goan cooking?

Rita is a local Goan cook who has been featured in cookbooks including John Gregory Smith's "Mighty Spice Express" and appeared on Fox Traveller's "Twist of Taste." She teaches from her own home kitchen and draws on family recipes passed down in her household.

What does a typical menu look like for the cooking class?

Dishes vary with the season and market availability, but you might prepare rissois de camarao (prawn puffs), vindalo or xacuti (Goan curry), cabbage foogath, caldin (prawn curry with coconut milk), or khatkhatem (mixed vegetable stew), with bolo mimosa (coconut pie) or manganem (a traditional coconut sweet) for dessert.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class?

No experience is required. Rita teaches the techniques and guides you through each step in her kitchen. The class is designed for anyone interested in learning to cook Goan food, whether you've cooked before or not.

What happens at the local market, and how long does that part take?

You visit the market where Rita shops to see the local Goan produce, fish and aromatics used in traditional cooking. This is part of the overall four-hour experience and helps you understand the ingredients before you cook with them in her kitchen.

Can I request vegetarian dishes or other dietary changes?

Yes. Vegetarian options are available. Let Rita know your preference when you book. If you have other specific dietary requirements, advise them at the time of booking so she can plan the menu accordingly.