Quick Details
Learn to cook a traditional Algarve pork and seafood dish with a local chef in Lagos. Over 2.5 hands-on hours, prepare pork, seafood and fresh ingredients, assemble and use the traditional Cataplana copper pan, and cook the dish to perfection while learning about its history and cultural significance. Sit down to enjoy your freshly made Cataplana at the end. Ages 5+, available in English and French. Minimum of 1 person required to book.
Adult & Children
(05+ years)
€ 172
Learn to cook a traditional Algarve pork and seafood dish with a local chef!
Dive into the rich flavors of the Algarve as you master the preparation of Cataplana, a traditional Portuguese dish that brings together pork and seafood, deeply rooted in the culinary heritage of southern Portugal.
In this immersive cooking experience, you will learn how to create this iconic dish from scratch, discovering the techniques, ingredients, and traditions that define Algarve cuisine. Guided by our expert chef, you’ll be taken step by step through the entire process, with insights into the history and cultural significance of Cataplana along the way.
During the class, you will learn how to:
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Prepare pork, seafood, and other essential fresh ingredients
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Assemble and use the traditional Cataplana copper pan
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Cook the dish to perfection, balancing fresh, aromatic flavors
Once the cooking is complete, sit down and enjoy the authentic flavors of your freshly prepared Cataplana in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. This experience also offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow food enthusiasts, share stories, and celebrate Portuguese culinary traditions.
By the end of the class, you will not only have enjoyed a delicious meal, but also enhanced your cooking skills with a recipe deeply steeped in Portuguese heritage, allowing you to recreate this beloved dish at home.
What’s Included
- Guided preparation of pork, seafood and fresh ingredients
- Learning to assemble and use the traditional Cataplana copper pan
- Hands-on cooking of the dish, balancing fresh, aromatic flavors
- Insights into the history and cultural significance of Cataplana
- Tasting of your freshly made Cataplana
- Recipe steeped in Portuguese heritage to recreate at home
What’s Not Included
- Transportation to and from the meeting point (private transfer available on request)
- Gratuities for the chef
Itinerary
- Welcome – Arrival at the Lagos cooking studio
- Ingredient Preparation – Prepare pork, seafood and other fresh ingredients
- Cataplana Assembly – Learn to use the traditional copper pan
- Cooking – Cook the dish to perfection, balancing fresh, aromatic flavors
- Tasting – Sit down and enjoy your freshly made Cataplana
Highlights
A genuine Algarve culinary tradition. Cataplana is deeply rooted in southern Portuguese heritage, not a simplified tourist dish.
Hands-on with the iconic copper pan. Learning to assemble and use the traditional Cataplana pan is a rare, tactile part of the class most cooking experiences skip.
A warm, personal setting. Past guests consistently describe the chefs — a mother and daughter team — as the heart of a genuinely memorable evening.
A social, connective experience. Sitting down to share the meal with fellow food enthusiasts adds a real sense of celebration to the class.
Transportation
- Not included – contact us if you need private transfer
Meeting point
- After booking we will send all the details of the meeting point and contact.
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What is Cataplana?
A traditional Algarve dish combining pork and seafood, cooked in a distinctive copper pan of the same name, deeply rooted in southern Portuguese culinary heritage.Do I get to eat what I cook?
Yes, you’ll sit down and enjoy the authentic flavors of your freshly prepared Cataplana at the end of the class.Is this suitable for children?
Yes, this experience welcomes children aged 5 and older.Is transportation included?
Transportation is not included, but private transfer can be arranged on request.What languages is the class offered in?
The class is offered in English and French.What is the minimum and maximum group size?
A minimum of 1 person is required to book. Groups of up to 8 are welcome.Can I cancel or reschedule my booking?
Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for our policy.
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My husband and I took a class to learn how to make Cataplana. We had a fantastic experience. The chef's were a mother and daughter team (both amazing women, we not only learned how to make the dish, we had a spectacular evening. If you're lucky enough to get the opportunity to take this class do not hesitate, it will truly be memorable!
– September 25, 2025 – Verified booking
Our class was so much fun!! We had the hands-on experience of making the famous Portuguese Cataplana - and then enjoying the (delicious) fruits of our labor. Our hostess and instructor, Joana, could not have been more knowledgable or friendly. I would highly recommend this experience if your visiting, or living in, Lagos!
– September 15, 2025 – Verified booking
Great experience at The Kitchen making Cataplana. Joana is a great teacher and very interactive and we went away feeling very satisfied. Thanks Joana!
– August 17, 2025 – Verified bookingShare your experience
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