Private Indonesian Cooking Class in Cape Town: Learn & Cook

Cook an Indonesian meal in a home kitchen, then sit down to eat it

A private 3-hour cooking class in the Newlands home of Indonesian instructor Echi Ismail, where you prepare dishes from scratch in her kitchen, pick fresh herbs from the garden, and share the meal you've cooked together. The class runs weekday mornings and afternoons, with instruction in English, Malay or Javanese, and children are welcome from age 5.

What’s included

• Welcome drink and snack.
• apron, printed recipes and slippers.
• fresh herbs picked from the garden.
• step-by-step instruction on each dish.
• coffee and tea.
• bottled water.
• lunch with the meals you've prepared.

Times

• Monday to Friday 10:00

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Private 1 group tour ›

Live guide English, Javanese and Malay Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 1 with pickup ›

Ages Adult (16 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

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

Operated by Lemongrass Cooking Class

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

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Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 13 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

You arrive at Echi's home in Newlands, a leafy suburb close to Kirstenbosch Garden and on the way to Cape Peninsula attractions. A welcome drink and snack greet you at the dining table, along with an apron, printed recipes and slippers. Echi has been teaching Indonesian and Asian cooking in Cape Town for more than two decades. She's married to a Capetonian and blends her Indonesian heritage with Cape Malay traditions in everything she teaches.

The hands-on work happens in her home kitchen. You'll pick a few herbs from the backyard while Echi explains where each ingredient comes from and the story behind the dishes. For the Indonesian menu, you'll prepare Nasi Liwet (aromatic rice served on a platter), Gepuk (braised beef), Karedok (raw vegetable salad with peanut dressing), sambal and condiments, plus Klepon: coconut balls made from glutinous rice flour and naturally gluten-free. Echi walks you through each step, so you're making the food, not watching a demonstration.

After about two hours of cooking, you move to the dining room to eat the meal you've prepared together. Coffee, tea, bottled water and lunch are all included. If you'd like, Echi has a collection of traditional Indonesian outfits available for photos.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Malay and Javanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What dishes do I learn to cook in the class?

The Indonesian menu includes Nasi Liwet (aromatic rice), Gepuk (braised beef), Karedok (raw vegetable salad with peanut dressing), sambal and condiments, plus Klepon (coconut balls made from glutinous rice flour, which is gluten-free). Echi explains the story and ingredients behind each one as you cook.

What happens during the cooking part of the class?

You work in Echi's home kitchen and pick fresh herbs from her backyard while she explains the ingredients and their origins. She gives you step-by-step instructions as you prepare each dish, so you're hands-on throughout the cooking process, not observing from the side.

Is the class available on weekends?

The cooking and lunch experience is only available on weekdays, Monday through Friday, during morning and afternoon time slots.