Sri Lanka: Private Cooking Class & Market Tour with Wasantha

Summary

Cook Sri Lankan classics from scratch with a local host, market visit and hands-on class

You’ll shop for fresh ingredients with Wasantha at a lively Sri Lankan market before heading into her home kitchen for a hands-on cooking class. Learn family recipes for five classic dishes — including aubergine moju — then share lunch together. It’s real conversation, laughter, spice-stained fingers, and a taste of daily life you can’t get from any restaurant.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the clatter of baskets at the market — not the big supermarket kind, but woven ones, slung over shoulders. Wasantha waved me over with a bright smile (she’s impossible to miss), and suddenly I was surrounded by stalls stacked with green curry leaves, little purple eggplants, and these tiny fiery chilies that made my eyes water just looking at them. She let me try saying “pol sambol” to the vendor — Li laughed when I tried to say it in Sinhala; I’m sure I butchered it. The whole place smelled like coconut and something sharp, maybe mustard seeds? Anyway, we picked up what we needed for our Sri Lankan cooking class and headed back.

Her kitchen felt like someone’s living room — there were family photos on the fridge, and her daughter peeked in now and then to see what we were up to. We learned how to make coconut milk from scratch (it’s messier than you’d think), and Wasantha showed us how she crushes spices with this heavy stone grinder. The sound is sort of hypnotic. My hands still smelled like turmeric hours later. We cooked four vegetable curries — aubergine moju was my favorite, all caramelized onions and crispy edges — plus a tuna curry that simmered while we tried not to snack too much on fried bits.

Lunch happened around her table, just us and Wasantha’s family. There was laughter about my attempt at rolling rice into neat balls (I gave up). The food was colorful and hot — not just spicy but warm in that way that makes you feel welcome. Honestly, I didn’t expect to feel so at home in someone else’s kitchen halfway across the world. Afterward, we sat for tea until the afternoon heat crept in through the windows… I still think about that meal sometimes when I smell toasted coconut.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Traditional Sri Lankan cooking experience

• Meet Wasantha
• Visit local market for ingredients
• Learn to blend herbs and spices
• Make fresh coconut milk
• Cook fluffy Sri Lankan rice
• Prepare four vegetable curries
• Cook tuna or chicken curry
• Enjoy the meal together

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included in this Sri Lankan cooking class?

Yes, private transportation is included for your convenience.

How many dishes do we cook during the class?

You’ll prepare five typical Sri Lankan dishes: four vegetable curries plus tuna or chicken curry.

Do we visit a local market as part of this experience?

Yes, you’ll join Wasantha at a nearby market to choose fresh ingredients together.

Is lunch included after the cooking session?

Yes, you’ll enjoy the meal you’ve prepared together for lunch.

Is this cooking class wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the experience is wheelchair accessible.

Are infants or small children allowed on this tour?

Infants are welcome; they can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult’s lap.

Can service animals join this activity?

Yes, service animals are allowed during the class and market visit.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation to meet Wasantha at her home, a guided walk through a local Sri Lankan market to select fresh ingredients together, hands-on instruction as you cook five traditional dishes from scratch in her kitchen, plus lunch shared around her family table before heading back relaxed and full.