Plant-Based West African Cuisine Class

Step into Chef Dumebi’s Private Stanmore Kitchen & Table for a hands-on exploration of West African plant-based cooking — bold, generous food built from vegetables, pulses, grains, seeds, herbs and aromatics.West African cooking has always had a deeply plant-rich side. In this class, Chef Dumebi takes you beyond simply replacing meat or dairy and shows you how flavour is built from the ground up.You’ll learn how peppers, tomatoes, onions, chilli, ginger, garlic, palm oil, beans, melon seeds and other familiar West African ingredients work together to create dishes with depth, balance and character.Using Chef Dumebi’s Base → Build → Finish approach, you’ll discover how to develop a strong flavour foundation, taste and adjust as you cook, and understand why a dish works rather than simply following a recipe.Along the way, Chef Dumebi shares the cultural context and everyday food traditions behind the dishes, drawing from the flavours and cooking experiences that have shaped her work across West Africa and the UK.Whether you’re vegan, exploring plant-based eating or simply curious about West African food, you’ll leave with techniques you can use confidently in your own kitchen.At the end of the session, we gather around the table to enjoy what we’ve cooked together.Sample MenuEach class features a carefully selected menu, which may change with the season and the focus of the session.Spiced Black-Eyed Bean CakesGolden bean cakes served with a fresh pepper relish.Smoky Vegetable Jollof Rice & Roasted PlantainRice cooked slowly in a deeply developed tomato-and-pepper base, served with sweet caramelised plantain.Egusi & GreensGround melon seeds cooked with leafy greens into a rich, comforting vegetable sauce, served with yam or sweet potato.Palm Oil Beans & Sweet PotatoSlow-cooked beans finished with palm oil and aromatics, paired with soft sweet potato.Zobo CoolerA refreshing hibiscus drink with warming spice and a bright, fruity finish.Please note: the menu may vary from class to class, allowing Chef Dumebi to work with seasonal ingredients and introduce different dishes from the West African plant-based kitchen. Recipe notesAll ingredientsHands-on tuition with Chef DumebiA complete meal to enjoyIntroduction to less familiar West African ingredientsChef Dumebi's Base → Build → Finish approach Read more details