New Delhi: Traditional Indian Cooking Class & Market Visit

Delhi’s best cooking lessons can begin with a market basket, not a recipe book. With home chef Lubna, you visit neighborhood stalls, choose ingredients, then cook in her family home, a 1974 haveli with a leafy courtyard feel and a welcoming kitchen.

I like two things in particular: you can shape the menu before you arrive, and the class teaches practical spice and cooking techniques, not just a sequence of steps. The meal you make is included, and Lubna’s family may join you at the table.

One consideration: the market visit is not part of the breakfast option, and the kitchen is a home kitchen, not a purpose-built teaching studio. If you have specific dietary needs or a must-cook dish, message Lubna ahead of time so she can plan around it.

• Meet Lubna in Friends Colony East: Her home is three minutes on foot from Ashram metro station, Gate 3.
• Shop a local market: The market is a short ride away, with produce, spices, and, if a stall is open, the chance to try street food.
• Plan a menu that suits you: Tell Lubna what you want to cook or what you need to avoid before the class.
• Make a full meal: The included cooking covers three main dishes, three types of bread, and one rice dish.
• Learn at home, then eat at home: The class ends around the family dining table, with Lubna’s family possibly joining.
• Allow three hours: Classes start at 11 a.m. or 4 p.m.; breakfast-making can be arranged, but without the market visit.

Start with a market, then cook at home

The experience begins at Lubna’s home in Friends Colony East, a quieter residential area away from the main tourist circuit. Find the address by searching for Delhi Bed and Breakfast, A-6 Friends Colony East, New Delhi 110065. The house is behind an HP petrol pump, on a quiet dead-end street, and has white walls and a red sloping roof. Ashram metro station, Gate 3, is a three-minute walk away.

From there, you’ll head to a nearby market, about a 10-minute ride from the area’s typical tourist spots. The trip may be by tuk-tuk, depending on the arrangement. It’s not a grand food hall arranged for visitors. It’s a working neighborhood market, where you can see the ingredients that shape daily cooking and ask Lubna about the produce and spices you encounter.

That stop gives the class useful context. Indian recipes often rely on combinations of spices, and a market visit lets you see and smell those ingredients before they reach the pan. You can also ask Lubna to help you find spices that may be hard to source once you’re back home. Street food may be available if a shop is open, but treat that as a possibility, not a guaranteed tasting.

Chai and a personal menu with Lubna

Back at the house, Lubna welcomes you with tea, usually chai, and water is also included. The class is private, so you can ask questions without having to keep pace with a larger group. It’s a good fit if you want to stop and understand a technique, or if you’re new to Indian cooking and need clear, step-by-step guidance.

The menu is flexible, but it pays to discuss it in advance. Lubna asks about your interests and dietary needs after booking, and the range can stretch from familiar dishes to less common home cooking. Past menus have included Rogan Josh, paneer masala, chicken biryani, lentil dhal, kebabs, aloo chaat, cauliflower dishes, chutney, samosas, parathas, and chapatis.

You can ask to focus on vegetarian dishes, a particular favorite, or recipes you don’t often see outside India. Lubna draws on family recipes, including those passed down by her mother-in-law, and adapts dishes to suit different needs. One unusual example was a wheat-, dairy-, and citrus-free menu built around oats. That shows the value of discussing restrictions early, though you should confirm that your specific needs can be accommodated before booking.

Spices and small techniques, not just a recipe

The main learning here is how ingredients work together. Lubna explains spice blends and the role of different spices, oils, and breads as you cook. That matters if you want to recreate the dishes later: a printed recipe can name the ingredients, but a demonstration can show how a cook handles them and what to watch for.

The class is hands-on, with you helping prepare several dishes in Lubna’s kitchen. The small setting makes it easier to follow her instructions and ask for clarification. If you already cook Indian food, you can use the time to ask about authentic methods or unfamiliar regional dishes. If this is your first attempt, you can learn at a more comfortable pace than you might in a large group.

The exact menu depends on what you arrange, so don’t assume every dish in the examples will be served in one session. The included meal consists of three main dishes, three types of bread, and one rice dish, along with all the ingredients. Desserts and specific starters are not guaranteed, so ask if you have a particular dish in mind.

Dinner at the family table

Once the cooking is done, you sit down to eat the meal you prepared. This is a simple but meaningful part of the experience: you get to taste the results while the lesson is still fresh, and the meal offers a natural setting for more questions. Lubna’s husband or other family members may join you, though their presence is not guaranteed.

The home adds a sense of place that a restaurant class can’t quite match. The building dates to 1974 and has traditional haveli architecture; plant lovers may also enjoy its greenery. The setting is domestic rather than polished for show, which is part of the appeal if you’re curious about everyday home life in Delhi.

There’s also the option to take a short walk in the neighborhood if you have extra time. That is not a separate guided tour, but it can give you a glimpse of a residential area outside the usual sightseeing route.

What $43 buys you

At $43 per person for three hours, the price covers more than cooking instruction. You get a private class with the hostess, the ingredients, a market outing, tea or water, and the meal you prepare. The included menu is substantial: three main dishes, three bread types, and a rice dish.

For a visitor who wants to learn recipes and eat a full meal, that is a solid use of part of a Delhi day. The value is especially good if you make use of the advance menu planning and ask about the techniques you want to take home. It is less compelling if you only want a quick tasting or a market walk; the cooking and shared meal are central to the experience.

Keep a little extra money for your own costs. Hotel transfers are not included, and any market purchases, metro or ride-hailing fares, snacks, and other personal expenses are yours to cover. The market visit is a short ride, but the precise transport arrangement should be confirmed with Lubna.

Choose the right time and set expectations

Classes start at 11 a.m. or 4 p.m., and the experience lasts three hours. Tell Lubna which start time you prefer. If breakfast cooking appeals to you, ask whether the 11 a.m. booking can be changed to that format. The trade-off is clear: the breakfast option does not include the market visit.

There is only one class per day, which helps keep the experience personal, but it also means you should check availability early if your Delhi schedule is tight. The session is taught in English and is listed as wheelchair accessible. If you have access requirements or food restrictions, confirm the details directly before the day.

The booking allows free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms offer flexibility, but they don’t replace the most useful preparation: send Lubna your food preferences and questions beforehand.

Who will get the most from this class

This experience suits curious cooks, first-time visitors who want a meal beyond restaurant menus, and anyone hoping to bring a few reliable Indian recipes home. It also works for experienced home cooks who want to ask about spice blends, breads, or dishes they haven’t tried making before.

It’s a particularly good choice if you value conversation and a home setting as much as the food. You’ll spend time with Lubna and may share the meal with her family, rather than moving through a formal demonstration. If you prefer a fast-paced class, a guaranteed street-food tasting, or a fixed menu with every dish confirmed in advance, ask detailed questions before booking.

Should you book Lubna’s Delhi cooking class?

Book it if you want to understand Indian home cooking through a market visit, hands-on preparation, and a meal shared in a local home. The strongest reasons are the advance menu planning, the practical attention to spices and techniques, and the chance to learn dishes you can cook again.

Skip it if you’re short on time or mainly want a market tour without a full cooking session. Before you reserve, message Lubna with your preferred start time, dietary needs, and the dishes you’d most like to make. That small step helps turn a good general class into one that fits your appetite and your kitchen skills.

FAQ

How long is the cooking class?

The experience lasts three hours.

What time does the class start?

Classes start at 11 a.m. or 4 p.m. Tell Lubna which time you prefer.

Is the market visit included?

The standard experience includes a visit to a local market. The breakfast-making option does not include the market visit.

Can I request specific dishes?

Yes. Lubna asks about your culinary interests after booking, so message her with the dishes you want to learn.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Lubna adapts recipes to different dietary needs. Tell her your requirements in advance and confirm that she can meet them.

What food and drink are included?

Ingredients, the meal you prepare, tea, and water are included. The meal includes three main dishes, three types of bread, and one rice dish.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is Delhi Bed and Breakfast at A-6 Friends Colony East, New Delhi 110065. It is behind the HP petrol pump and a three-minute walk from Ashram metro station, Gate 3.