Chengdu Sichuan Cooking Class | Learn Authentic Sichuan Cuisine

Cook 3 Dishes

Mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, plus seasonal dish

Market Tour

Learn to select fresh ingredients

Spice Masterclass

Understand Sichuan pepper and chili oil

Taste & Eat

Enjoy your creations for lunch

Recipe Card

Take home detailed recipes in English

Certificate

Official completion certificate

Your Cooking Experience

Morning Session

A hands-on culinary journey through Sichuan cuisine. You'll shop for ingredients, cook three dishes, and understand the philosophy behind China's most popular regional cuisine.

8:30 AM: Meet your chef-instructor at the cooking school in the city center.
8:30 - 9:30 AM: Local Market Visit. Walk to a nearby wet market with your chef:
- Learn to select fresh tofu (the base of mapo tofu)
- Identify Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies
- Understand the difference between "broad bean paste" (豆瓣酱) brands
- See the variety of noodles used in Sichuan cuisine
9:30 - 10:00 AM: Return to cooking school, apron on, prep begins.
10:00 - 12:30 PM: Hands-On Cooking. You'll prepare:
- Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐): The dish that made Sichuan cuisine famous worldwide. Learn the balance of mala (numbing-spicy), the silkiness of tofu, and the art of the "seven emotions" of Sichuan cooking.
- Dan Dan Noodles (担担面): The humble street food that conquered menus worldwide. Master the sauce: sesame paste, soy sauce, vinegar, and the crucial Sichuan pepper oil.
- Seasonal Dish: Depending on the season, learn a third dish — could be twice-cooked pork (回锅肉), water-boiled fish (水煮鱼), or hand-pulled noodles.
12:30 - 1:30 PM: Lunch. Enjoy what you cooked! The best lunch you've ever made yourself. The chef also prepares additional dishes to round out the meal.
1:30 PM: Receive recipe cards, a completion certificate, and tips for recreating these dishes at home.

Afternoon Session (Optional)

For those who want more, we offer an extended afternoon session.

2:00 - 5:00 PM: Advanced Techniques:
- Learn to make proper Sichuan chili oil from scratch
- Master the "numbing" technique with Sichuan pepper
- Create a complete Sichuan cold dish
- Understand the eight basic flavors of Sichuan cuisine
5:00 PM: Extended session ends with afternoon tea and Q&A with your chef.

Class Inclusions

Included

English-speaking professional chef instructor
All ingredients and equipment
Market tour with chef
Apron to keep
Recipe cards in English
Completion certificate
Lunch (what you cook)

Not Included

Transportation to/from cooking school
Afternoon session (add $50)
Personal expenses

Group size: Maximum 8 people for personalized attention. Classes run daily with morning sessions (8:30 AM) and afternoon sessions (2:00 PM).

Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all. This class is designed for complete beginners. The chef-instructor speaks English, explains each step clearly, and helps with techniques. If you've never boiled water, that's fine — we'll teach you everything. Conversely, if you're an experienced cook looking to specialize in Sichuan cuisine, the chef can provide more advanced guidance.

Yes. We can accommodate: vegetarians (no meat or fish stock), vegans (no animal products at all), gluten-free (some modifications needed), and most allergies. Please inform us at least 48 hours in advance so we can adjust the menu. Sichuan cuisine actually has excellent vegetarian options — many Buddhist temple dishes originated here.

You don't need to love spice to appreciate Sichuan cuisine. The class teaches you the techniques and flavors — we can adjust the spice level to your preference. Many of the core skills (knife work, sauce balance, wok technique) apply to non-spicy cooking too. And the chef can prepare milder versions of dishes for you to taste while others go full-spice.

Sichuan ingredients are increasingly available globally. You'll receive a detailed ingredient sourcing guide listing: what to buy in Chinese/Asian supermarkets, what to order online, and acceptable substitutions for hard-to-find items. The key ingredients (Sichuan peppercorns, doubanjiang, Chinese chili oil) are now available at most Asian grocery stores or on Amazon.

Absolutely. Solo travelers love this class — it's a great way to meet people and learn a skill. If you're the only person booked for a session, we still run the class (just with more personal attention from the chef). Groups of 2-8 are common; you'll likely meet other travelers.

Sichuan Cooking Class