Class to sharpen up vegetarian cooking

Chef Deep Kumar will help people produce yummy meals without meat at the weekend's U&I cooking class. Photo / Stephen Parker

Not a vegetarian but keen to learn how to include more vegetables into your diet? Find out how - and get a feed at the same time - at the next U&I event tomorrow.

Chef Deep Kumar will be showing participants how to transform a shepherds pie into a vegetarian dish.

Multicultural Rotorua co-ordinator Susana So said the U&I cooking events, organised with the Rotorua Newcomers Network, had proven to be really popular since they were first introduced six years ago.

The group has cooked Thai multiple times as well as French, Japanese, Filipino, Middle Eastern, Korean, Zimbabwean and El Salvadorean foods, and now it's heading into the world of vegetarianism.

"Most of us know how to make a shepherds pie, but not a vegetarian one," said Ms So.

"We'll also be learning how to make a vegetarian bruschetta. Meat eaters like myself may want to try cooking with more vegetables, but how do you get past cooking without meat? We tend to look for the taste of meat."

Ms So said she had a cousin with health issues who had started eating more vegetables and had noticed an improvement in his own health. She wants to give others alternatives with their cooking.

There are 10 spots available at this session, which costs $15 and includes a meal. Participants also go in the draw to win a Capizzi voucher.

Mr Kumar is an Indian chef and healthy food promoter at Future Diets. He is also the restaurant manager/chef at Capizzi Pizzeria Rotorua.

Multicultural Rotorua and the Rotorua Newcomers Network are also organising a cheese-making workshop for next Saturday.

To register for the vegetarian event text "vegetarian" and your full name to (022) 431 5128. To register for the cheese- making trip text "cheese" with your name to the same number.

Details
What: U & I Kitchen: Vegetarian
When: Saturday, January 31, 10am to 12pm
Where: Rotorua District Library, Haupapa St
How much: $15, includes lunch.