Masala Social
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn 166 Montague St Apt 4A At Clinton St Brooklyn, New York 11201
Directions:
Buzzer/directory tower is located on the left side of the building entrance. No announcement required with the doorman. Go directly to the elevator.
Indian Vegetarian Cuisine More and more people are turning to vegetarian foods as part of a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. Since India has a large vegetarian population and multiple distinct regions, it offers a variety of delicious vegetarian options that are not only full of enticing flavors, but also packed with nutrition.
Our classes will familiarize you with a few basic ingredients and cooking techniques adapted to the needs of the modern American kitchen. You’ll discover that preparing Indian vegetarian cuisine gives you lots of room to experiment - and it will bring out the cooking enthusiast in you in unexpectedly creative ways. The possibilities are endless: it’s a journey that will reach deep into all five of your senses and beyond.
Sunita’s Story We all love the foods we grew up with. In my case, I watched my grandmothers, mother and aunts prepare elaborate meals every day. It made me think, “Wow, they’re really dedicated to this.” But they did it out of a sense of duty to feed their family a good, wholesome home-cooked meal. Cooking for special occasions was a visual treat as well: all the ladies from the community gathered to cook the meal — chopping vegetables, preparing masalas, exchanging tips and, of course, gossiping. And perhaps even fixing up right matches for eligible young people of marrying age!
After immigrating to New York City in 1988 from my home town of Surat, I found that authentic Indian vegetarian cooking was hard to come by. My craving for good Gujarati food (from the western state of Gujarat), led me to master my own cooking. I started experimenting, not only with the cooking I grew up with, but also with foods and techniques I encountered in other parts of India and around the globe.
Another passion of mine is applying traditional Indian cooking techniques to create healthy, balanced and simple to prepare meals that make imaginative use of ingredients and spices. After years of savoring these creations, my family and friends had one question: “Can you teach me?”
So here I am, looking forward to sharing my passion for delicious, healthy–yet imaginative–vegetarian cooking from the different regions in India. You will learn how diverse yet versatile Indian vegetarian food is. And it will perhaps forever change your view of "Indian Food" or vegetarian food in general.
Let’s get Masala happy!
Reviews of Masala Social
(4.9-star rating across
8 reviews)
Indian Regional Thaalis: Punjabi Thaali
Reviewed by Blaine C. on 4/23/2016
Just finished my third class, Gujarati Thaali, and was just as impressed as my first class. Sunita is certainly an inspiration teacher. We had lots of hands on time in preparing the dishes. I posted a picture of our meal on my face book page and got lots of positive feed back. The meal was so flavorful but yet not hard to make. My task was to 'own' making the Eggplant stuffed with peanuts and cilantro and it was awesome. I took some of the leftovers to work to let others sample the results and everyone enjoyed it. Looking forward to my next class.
Indian Regional Thaalis: Gujarati Thaali
Reviewed by Camilla Seirup on 4/5/2016
What a wonderful experience! My father and I took the Regional Thaalis: Gujarati Thaalii class as a Christmas gift and were treated to a delightful afternoon of mouthwatering food, conversation, and insightful instruction. Sunita is a most welcoming host and a fantastic teacher. I am so grateful that her passion for preserving traditional Indian cooking techniques has led her to share her knowledge through cooking classes. Sunita put together a beautifully thought out menu that showcases the Gujarati cuisine she grew up with. Her knowledge of the region and its history helped place the flavors and dishes in context and made for a very enriching experience. Sunita encouraged us to experiment and to get a real feel for the cuisine. In just one class, she demystified what seemed to be impossibly complicated preparations and we learned far more than five recipes we focused on. We can't wait for our next Regional Thaalis!
One Pot Indian Meals: Masala Khichdi
Reviewed by Emily M on 4/5/2016
This was the first time ever taking a class like this and picking one from coursehorse so I didn't know what to expect. It was great! Sunita is lovely and animated cook. The food was delicious. Her kitchen is inviting. I recommend taking this class to anyone.
One Pot Indian Meal: Pav Bhaji
Reviewed by Hemant on 3/1/2016
This was a perfect valentines day surprise planned by my girlfriend. We took the one pot Pav Bhaji class. Sunita was a gracious host, insightful cook and her home was very welcoming. She was patient and descriptive about the cooking process during the entire class. I can attest to the fact the food cooked was very authentic and similar to what you would taste back in Mumbai, India where this dish originates from.
One Pot Indian Meals: Masala Khichdi
Anonymous review on 2/7/2016
An incredible time spent learning about Indian food and culture. Great conversation, stories and food!
One Pot Indian Meals: Masoor Daal Dhokli
Reviewed by Hal H. on 10/25/2015
The class was super informative, the food was interesting and delicious, and Sunita was an excellent host and teacher. I would definitely suggest that someone looking for a unique cooking experience take a Masala Social class.
One Pot Indian Meals: Hyderabadi Biryani
Reviewed by Katherine M. on 5/31/2015
One Pot Indian Meal: Pav Bhaji
Reviewed by Scott S. on 5/15/2015
Review Summary by CourseHorse
Students have had a positive experience taking classes at Masala Social, praising the knowledgeable and inspiring teacher, Sunita. They appreciate the hands-on time spent preparing dishes and the opportunity to experiment and gain a real feel for the cuisine. Students have learned more than just recipes, with Sunita demystifying complicated preparations and providing enriching context about the flavors and dishes. The food cooked in class is described as delicious and authentic, and students appreciate the inviting and welcoming atmosphere of Sunita's kitchen. Overall, students highly recommend Masala Social classes for the opportunity to learn about Indian food and culture in a unique and informative way.
Direct quotes:
1. "The meal was so flavorful but yet not hard to make."
2. "In just one class, she demystified what seemed to be impossibly complicated preparations and we learned far more than five recipes we focused on."
3. "The class was super informative, the food was interesting and delicious, and Sunita was an excellent host and teacher."
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