Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking Course

The Chef Academy of London Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking Course is an intensive 80-hour culinary training program designed for students who want to develop professional skills in vegetarian, vegan and plant-based cooking. This course explores contemporary vegetable-focused cuisine from a professional culinary perspective. Students learn how vegetables, grains, legumes, herbs, spices, fermented ingredients, nuts, seeds and plant-based products can be transformed into refined, balanced and modern dishes. The program is suitable for culinary students, aspiring chefs, career changers and professionals who want to deepen their knowledge of plant-based cooking and understand how vegetarian and vegan dishes can be created with structure, flavor, texture, creativity and professional presentation. Students learn the basics of vegetarian cooking, including ingredient selection, seasonality, paring knife skills, roasting, steaming, sautéing, blanching, braising, and the correct use of heat to develop flavor, color, and texture. The course also focuses on flavor development and dish structure. Students explore plant-based umami, flavor layering, vegetarian and vegan sauces, emulsions, acidity, flavor ingredients, fermentation and menu design. These techniques help students understand how to create dishes that are balanced, satisfying, and suitable for professional kitchens. International influences are also included, with elements of modern European vegetable cuisine, plant-based Asian cuisine, Middle Eastern vegetarian dishes, fermented ingredients such as tofu and miso, legumes, grains and global spice culture. The program also introduces students to sustainable cooking practices, waste reduction, responsible ingredient use, menu engineering, presentation techniques and food styling. This helps students understand not only how to cook vegetarian and vegan dishes, but also how to present them professionally and design them for modern restaurant menus. Combining practical cooking, plant-based techniques, international influences, sustainability and professional presentation, this course provides a focused pathway for students who want to improve their vegetarian and vegan cooking skills and apply them in the culinary and hospitality industry.