What people say

“Understanding the basics of creating great food can revolutionise the way you cook. This course brings to life original, well-crafted content, with every lesson you will be eager to apply the learnings. Bravo Nikki and Brandon! Anyone can learn to cook with the right teachers, even online. Highly recommended for those who want to improve their cooking skills, adopt better kitchen practices, choose and use cooking utensils, and understand the natural ingredients we take for granted.”

Desi Nair

“Nikki and Brandon share their culinary wisdom in such a fun and engaging way, and get you thinking like a chef in no time. They changed my entire perspective on the art of cooking and I can’t wait to start my next course!”

Daniel Mesham

“Cooking with Nikki and Brandon – and this course – is like finding a great new love I suppose. You are in awe of the beauty you see, a tiny bit intimidated but, most importantly, inspired to be better. The mouthwatering images, the precise descriptions, the Cape Town light filtering through every video, the juuuust right humour in the effortless writing … It really is a great joy to follow How to Cook without Recipes.”

Lena Sönnichsen

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Before we begin

    • Meet Nikki and Brandon

    • How it works
  • 2

    Choosing your knife

    • Essential tools

    • What to look for

    • Knife balance

    • Size and shape

    • The expert

    • Test your knowledge

    • Over to you
  • 3

    Keeping your knife sharp

    • Sharpening vs. maintaining

    • Maintaining

    • How to use a flat steel

    • In case of emergency

    • General care

    • Over to you
  • 4

    Your board

    • Choosing and caring for your board
  • 5

    Core ingredient: the onion

    • Sourcing

    • Farmer Jo Final
  • 6

    Core technique: chopping an onion

    • Safety first

    • Introduction

    • How to chop an onion

    • Test your knowledge

    • Over to you

    • Afraid of tears?
  • 7

    Core technique: caramelising an onion

    • Introduction

    • Getting to know the onion

    • Caramelisation

    • Over to you

    • Caramelisation video

    • Caramelisation worksheet

    • Caramelisation guide
  • 8

    Thinking like a cook

    • Influencing outcome

    • Choosing a direction

    • Over to you

    • Case study

    • Caramelised-onion cheese toastie method

    • Caramelised-onion cheese toastie worksheet

    • Your assignment

    • Beyond the sandwich
  • 9

    Before you go

    • Conclusion

    • Next steps

    • Bonus method

FAQ

  • Who is this course for?

    This course is for you if you’d like to get started with learning how to cook or if you’re further along the cooking continuum and would like to deepen your knowledge of the basics.

  • What support is offered when I take this course?

    Although this is a self-paced course, we are here for you should you have questions along the way. You can be in touch with us by emailing: [email protected]

  • Can I buy this for someone else, as a gift?

    Definitely. If you want to purchase this course for a friend or someone in your family, just send us an email with the details and we will create a voucher with an access code that you can pass on to them as the gift. You can reach us at: [email protected]

  • How many recipes will I get out of this course?

    The focus of all our courses is on methods, techniques and ways of thinking that once internalised and applied may liberate you from recipes! That way you are free to cook according to your personal taste, for the rest of your life.

  • How long do I have access to the course?

    You have access to the course for 60 days from the date of purchase. The worksheets and mobile-optimised pdfs are downloadable so you can continue to use them after completing the course.

  • I don't have a PayPal account, are there other options?

    You can pay with PayPal’s guest checkout, which allows you to use a credit or debit card to pay. Depending on where you are based, the button may read ‘Pay with credit card’ or ‘create account’. If there is a ‘create account’ button simply follow the prompts and it will take you to the guest checkout.

  • Do you offer a money-back guarantee?

    The content has been put together with a lot of thought and care and we believe in the value it offers. That said, we would like you to have the chance to experience that firsthand, and risk-free. So in the unlikely event that the courses does not live up to your expectations, we offer a money-back guarantee within seven days of purchasing the course and on completion of a feedback form.