Select tickets
At a Glance
📍 Location: Forest Hill, South London
💷 Price: £75 per person, or £140 for two
🍴 Cuisine: Nigerian
⏱️ Duration: 3 hours, including cooking and dining
👤 Age: 18+ (participants 17 and under welcome with an adult over 21 who's also taking part)
👥 How you'll work: in pairs, at your own cooking station
🥘 Dietaries: Adaptable for vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian diets
A Nigerian jollof rice cooking class in London
If there's one dish Nigerians will go to war over, it's jollof rice. Deeply seasoned, vibrant red and finished with that coveted smoky crust at the bottom of the pot, it's the centrepiece of every party, every family gathering and every argument about whose version is best.
In this hands-on Nigerian jollof cooking class, you'll learn to make it properly, alongside grilled chicken, a creamy Nigerian-style coleslaw and sweet, caramelised fried plantain. Four dishes, one plate: the kind of meal that doesn't need an occasion. No experience is needed; every step is demonstrated first.
What you'll learn
- Build a smoky tomato base – learn how to get the signature smoky flavour that transforms the finished rice.
- Master your grains – understand which rice to use, the right rice-to-liquid ratio, and the steaming method that gives you perfectly cooked grains every time.
- Grill your chicken – marinate and grill chicken until juicy and charred (a vegan alternative is available).
- Explore regional variations – find out what makes Nigerian jollof different from Ghanaian, Senegalese and Sierra Leonean jollof.
- Pick the perfect plantain – learn how to read ripeness, control the heat and get deep amber caramelisation without burning.
What you'll eat and drink
- A welcome drink on arrival.
- Nigerian jollof rice – fragrant, perfectly seasoned rice with its signature red colour and crispy bottom layer.
- Grilled chicken – or a vegan alternative.
- Nigerian-style coleslaw – cool and creamy, with a gentle sharpness that cuts through the heat.
- Fried plantain (dodo) – sweet, caramelised at the edges and soft all the way through.
- Your choice of zobo (hibiscus, ginger, pineapple) or Chapman (cucumber, orange, lemon, blackcurrant).
- Water and tea are available throughout the class.
How the class runs
- All ingredients, equipment and aprons are provided.
- Easy-to-follow demonstrations come first, then you'll cook at your own station.
- You'll work in pairs to cook all four dishes together.
- Once everything's cooked, we'll sit down and eat the full plate together (or you can pack up a box to take home).
- You'll receive a digital recipe pack after class so you can cook everything again at home.
Things to know before you book
- You're welcome to book on your own. We'll pair you with another solo guest on the day.
- This is a hands-on class, so we can't accommodate spectators or provide a waiting area for friends and family. Everyone attending needs a ticket and takes part in the cooking.
- All ingredients are prepared in a shared kitchen where common allergens may be present. Please tell us about any dietary requirements when you book.
- Looking for a gift? Book two places for £140, or buy a gift voucher.
More West African cooking classes in London:
Ghanaian Jollof · Nigerian Street Food · Nigerian Breakfast · Incredible Iyan · Amazing Abula