Subhashji Agarwal during the cooking class in Ranchi on Monday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, July 25: Care for some tangy potato or baby corn chilli? Or will cheesy pizzas whet your family’s appetite?

Around 250 homemakers and college students lined up for a three-day vegetarian cookery class — Cook Na Kaho — at Agrasen Bhavan here today, hosted by Mahila Samarpan Shakha, the female wing of Marwari Yuva Manch.

The most lip-smacking part of the event is the fact that recipes here have the Sanjeev Kapoor signature touch. Raipur-based chef Subhashji Agrawal, who has been an assistant to India’s most celebrated television chef, is taking the classes.

With a registration fee of Rs 600 per participant, students who have enrolled for the course will get to learn Chinese, Italian and South Indian cuisine, besides yummy ice creams.

Live demonstration classes — in which chef Agrawal cooks in front of students who are expected to jot down notes — will be held between 3pm and 7pm everyday.

In 2008, the women’s outfit had held a similar event. Homemaker Asha Biyani had donned the chef’s apron to teach participants Mexican, Italian and continental dishes, which had also been much appreciated.

Today, on Day One, participants watched as Agrawal deftly sliced, diced, kneaded, stirred and mixed ingredients, either for the wok or the oven.

“We’ve watched cookery shows on television. But seeing is believing. It was a treat to watch a chef cook live before us. We learnt a variety of dishes right on the spot. It was really worth attending the class,” said participant and college-goer Noori Choudhary.

Fellow participant Neha Agrawal of Piska More locality said her family loved different vegetarian items, but apart from traditional fare, she didn’t know many recipes. “After this three-day stint, I’ll be in a position to really tickle their taste buds. I’m looking forward to surprising my family with treats,” she said.

Kiran Khaitan, one of the organisers, said the response was overwhelming. “It’s for the second time that we are organising such an event. Students are already raving about it,” she said, adding that segments such as jhatpat nashta comprising different types of chapattis had been planned. Another organiser Neelam Modi said inviting well-known chefs from across the country was their priority. “We want participants to see how professionals cook and pick up their trade secrets,” she said.

“I’m happy students are so enthusiastic. You need a positive vibe for some great cooking,” smiled Chef Agarwal. “I’ll look forward to visiting Jharkhand in future too.”