Essential Cooking, Our Flagship Course

Truly great cooking starts with mastering the essentials. Not just learning recipes, but understanding the why behind every technique. That is the thinking behind Essential Cooking, our flagship online course designed to build deep, confident skill in the kitchen.

Whether you are a passionate home cook, professional, a career-changer, or simply ready to go beyond casual cooking videos and piecemeal tutorials, Essential Cooking offers a transformative foundation that will last a lifetime.

What is Essential Cooking?

Essential Cooking is a 24-week structured course that blends professional culinary training with the flexibility of online learning. Designed and taught by the same expert Leiths teachers who train professional chefs, this course guides you through core techniques, classic dishes and kitchen theory; all in a methodical, supportive format that builds week by week.

You will learn:

• Knife skills, prep and mise en place
• Sauces and stocks that form the backbone of great cooking
• Meat, fish and vegetable cookery, with an emphasis on seasonality
• Baking basics, including pastry, breads and cakes
• Plating, presentation and time management
• Menu planning and kitchen confidence

This is not just about following instructions; it is about understanding.

How does it compare to Chef Skills?

We are often asked how Essential Cooking differs from our other core professional course, Chef Skills. While both are rooted in professional training, they serve different purposes.

Chef Skills is fast-paced, technical and focused on advanced kitchen techniques; perfect for those who already have a solid foundation and want to refine specific skills or are already in an established career in food. It is intense, rewarding and builds finesse.

Essential Cooking, on the other hand, is the foundation. It is by no means a beginner course but where we recommend you start if your goal is to reach a professional level in the kitchen. It is designed to help you learn from the ground up, in the right order, so nothing gets missed. No bad habits, no shortcuts; just sound technique and proper training.

If in doubt always start with Essential Cooking and move on to Chef Skills. Then the world really is your oyster.

Why choose Leiths Online?

There is no shortage of cooking content online, but few options offer real structure, progression and expert feedback. With Essential Cooking, you are not just watching someone cook and trying to copy them. You are being taught how to think like a cook; how to prep, plan, taste, adapt and improve.

It is flexible around your schedule, but rigorous in its teaching; offering the best of both worlds for busy people who want a professional-level culinary education.

Is this course right for me?

Essential Cooking is ideal if:

• You are self-taught and want to plug the gaps in your knowledge
• You love food and want to cook with more ease, skill and intention
• You are considering a food-related career but want to start with a strong base
• You are in an early career in food and want to accelerate
• You are ready to invest in proper training that will serve you forever