Traditional Balinese Cooking Class in Ubud, Bali

I love to eat. But when I travel, I want to do more than just eat. Surely, I want to learn. My best day in Bali was not at the beach. It was in a kitchen in Ubud. It was a Traditional Balinese Cooking Class. This was a deep culinary journey. It felt like learning to cook with family. If you want a real Bali experience, you must do this. I highly recommend booking this Bali experience with Bali Touristic. They work with the best local families. They make everything so easy.

The Morning Market Adventure

The day starts early. Ready to have our Bali experience. The sun is just waking up. We met our guide from Bali Touristic at the market. The market is a burst of color and smell. It is busy and loud in the best way. Our teacher was a lovely woman named Putu. First, she smiled the whole time. Then she taught us not just how to cook. Next she taught us about Balinese life.

Putu showed us everything. She held up strange, spiky fruits. She showed us fresh turmeric root. It looks like little orange ginger. She explained every vegetable and spice.

“This is kencur,” she said. “It makes the soup smell amazing.” We smelled fresh lemongrass. We saw baskets full of bright red chilies. This was not a supermarket. Everything was fresh from the farm. This first step was important. It connected us to the food. We saw where it came from. We met the people who grow it. This made the cooking later feel very special.

The Kitchen in the Family Compound

After the market, we went to Putu’s home. A Balinese family compound is a peaceful place. There are small temples and gardens. The kitchen was open air. We could hear birds singing. The breeze felt nice.

First, Putu gave us a welcome drink. It was lemongrass tea. It was sweet and refreshing. Then, she laid out all our ingredients. It was like a painter’s palette. So many colors! We each got our own cooking station. It was a traditional stove called a kayu. So, it uses firewood. That’s why it makes the food taste smoky and real.

Learning the Balinese Base: Bumbu

Putu taught us the heart of Balinese cooking class. It is called bumbu. This is a spice paste. It is the flavor of Bali. We each got a stone mortar and pestle. It was heavy! Putu told us to grind the spices. We had shallots, garlic, chilies, turmeric, and more.

“Grind with your heart,” she laughed. “Not too fast. Feel the rhythm.” It was hard work. My arm got tired. But slowly, the spices became a smooth, yellow paste. The smell was incredible. It was spicy, earthy, and fresh. This paste is the start of almost every Balinese dish. Making it by hand felt ancient and respectful.

Cooking Our Feast

Now, the real fun began. We used our bumbu to cook many dishes. We made:

• Base Gede: This is the master spice paste. We made a big batch to take home!

• Chicken Satay (Sate Lilit): We mashed fish and chicken with coconut. Then, we pressed it onto lemongrass sticks. It was like a kebab, but so much better. Grilling them over the fire made the whole place smell amazing.

• Yellow Curry (Kari Ayam): We cooked chicken in a creamy coconut sauce. The sauce was yellow from our turmeric. It was not too spicy. It was just right.

• Long Bean Salad with Coconut (Urab): This was a cool, fresh salad. It had crunchy beans and grated coconut. It was a perfect balance to the rich curry.

• Fried Tempeh with Spices: We fried tempeh and tossed it in a sweet and spicy sauce. It was so crispy and tasty.

Putu walked around and helped everyone. She showed us little tricks. “A little more salt here,” she would say. Or, “Wait for the coconut milk to bubble.” She told stories about cooking for her family. She explained what foods are for ceremonies. We were not just learning recipes. But also we were learning about her culture. What a wonderful Balinese Cooking Class for our real Bali experience!

The Best Part of Balinese Cooking Class : Eating Together!

After all the cooking, we sat down to eat. We ate at a big table in the garden. We tried all the food we made. It was the most delicious meal I had in Bali. Why? Because we made it ourselves! The flavors were bright and complex. The chicken satay was smoky. The curry was rich and creamy. The salad was fresh.

But the food was only part of it. The best part was the company. We talked and laughed with Putu and the other students. We felt like part of the family. It was more than a meal. It was a celebration. We felt happy and proud.

Why This Experience is So Special

A Balinese cooking class in Ubud is a must do. Here is why:

• You Learn Real Skills: You can make these dishes at home. I now make a simple yellow curry for my friends!

• You Connect with Culture: Food is a window into a new way of life. You learn about family, religion, and traditions.

• It’s a Sensory Adventure: You touch, smell, hear, and taste everything. It is an Bali experience you will never forget.

• You Support Local Families: Your money goes directly to people like Putu. This helps them preserve their traditions.

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How to Book Your Balinese Cooking Class

I want you to have the same amazing Bali experience I did. The easiest way is to book with Bali Touristic. Surely, they are experts in authentic Balinese tours. Then they also know the kindest families. Clearly, they handle all the details. You just need to show up with a hungry heart.

Don’t just take my word for it. We have many happy customers! Please check out our reviews on Tripadvisor. You can read their stories and see their photos. They all talk about the warmth of the families and the incredible food.

So, skip the crowded restaurant one night. Do something different. Put on an apron, grind some spices, and laugh with a new friend. A Traditional Balinese Cooking Class in Ubud will give you memories. And recipes! It will be the highlight of your trip. I promise.

Thank you, Putu, and thank you, for the real Bali experience, for the gift of food and friendship. (YL)