Ghanaian food is best understood in a kitchen, and this home cooking class in Osu gives you a place at the stove. You meet your host, with the option to shop for ingredients first, then cook a full meal from scratch: a soup with meat or fish served with fufu, banku or rice balls, jollof rice with a choice of chicken, fish, goat or pork, spicy fried plantain known as kelewele, shito pepper sauce and a salad, and pan-fried cinnamon bananas to finish. The cooking uses a pestle and mortar rather than a blender, so the fufu is real work, and the experience is private, for groups of one to fifteen. You eat the lunch you have cooked, which makes this one of the most satisfying and best-reviewed cultural experiences in Accra, with a 4.9 rating from more than 70 reviews.
What happens
The class typically runs three to six hours depending on the size of the group, with the optional market stop at the start. In the kitchen your host explains each dish, from the spice base of the jollof to the way soups are layered with fish or meat, and you take turns at the pounding and stirring.
The pace is relaxed, and questions are welcome. The class ends with a meal at the table, so arrive hungry. Lunch and an air-conditioned vehicle are included, according to the booking page, and starts are available most mornings with free cancellation up to a day before.
Why it is worth doing
Accra's street food can be intimidating on a first trip, and a class gives you the vocabulary. After a morning here, a menu with kenkey, waakye or red red no longer looks mysterious, and you will know why people argue so passionately about whose jollof is best. The experience also gives you a window into a Ghanaian home, which is something most itineraries do not offer. It works well on the first full day in the city, or as a relaxed counterpoint to a heavy morning of heritage sites.
Practical tips
Tell the host about any allergies and dietary needs in advance, especially regarding fish, pork and peppers. Wear clothes you do not mind getting splashed and closed shoes if you will be shopping at a market. Bring cash for tips and for anything you want to buy. Children are welcome, but the pounding and the heat of the kitchen suit older children better. Public transport and ride-hail taxis both reach Osu easily, and the class pairs well with an afternoon at the Arts Centre or a stroll along Oxford Street.
After the class
You will leave with recipes, a better feel for the spices and a list of dishes to look for on menus and at street stalls. It is worth planning a light evening, since the meal is generous, and the class is a good way to meet a local host and ask all the questions you might hesitate to ask at a restaurant. If you enjoy the experience, the guide to eating and drinking in Accra points you to the dishes and markets that follow naturally from it, and Makola Market is a short ride away if you want to buy spices to take home.
What to expect
The experience
A private hands-on cooking class in a home in Osu, with an optional market visit and a shared meal at the end.
Best time
A morning start suits most visitors, and the class makes a good first full day in Accra.
How long
Typically three to six hours depending on group size.
Tips
Arrive hungry, mention allergies in advance, wear clothes you can splash and bring cash for tips.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers who want to learn jollof, fufu and kelewele from a local host.
- Families
- Welcome; older children enjoy the pounding, and the group is private.
- Couples
- A fun shared activity that ends in a very good lunch.
- Pair with
- Oxford Street in Osu, the Arts Centre or Osu Castle.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
What will we cook?+
A soup with fufu, banku or rice balls, jollof rice, kelewele fried plantain, shito and salad, with pan-fried cinnamon bananas for dessert.
Is it a private class?+
Yes, it is a private experience for groups of one to fifteen guests.
How long does it last?+
Usually three to six hours, depending on the size of the group and whether you visit a market first.
Is lunch included?+
Yes, you eat the meal you have cooked, and an air-conditioned vehicle is included according to the booking page.
Can I join with dietary needs?+
Tell the host in advance about allergies or dietary needs, particularly fish, pork and pepper.
