Medellin: Learn to make Colombian empanadas from scratch

Fresh dough. Warm hosts. Real Medellin flavor. I love the hands-on empanada making where you actually prepare, fill, and cook with guidance, and I love the Medellin warmth that turns a cooking class into real conversation with a family kitchen crowd.

You should know one thing up front: this is a home-style setup, so you need to be comfortable jumping into a casual kitchen routine for the full stretch of 150 minutes.

Key things that make this empanada class worth your time

• Small group of up to 9, so you are not just watching
• Choose your fillings, including meat, chicken, and a special filling that changes every month
• Vegetarian and vegan-friendly options, including a vegetarian hogao pairing
• A quick empanada origin story, so you understand what you are making
• Food plus drinks, including a welcome drink and something to enjoy after cooking

Antioquia Empanadas: Why This Class Feels Local, Not Generic

In Colombia, empanadas are not just a snack you grab. They are a food idea that changes by region, family, and filling, which is exactly why this kind of lesson works so well. Here, you are not memorizing one recipe and moving on. You are learning how a home cooks thinks, tastes, and adapts.

What I like most is that the class gives you both sides of the experience. You get a brief history of empanadas, but you also get your hands in the process. That combo matters. The history helps you make sense of the dish, while the cooking teaches you how it actually comes together when someone’s family is feeding people.

And yes, it is Medellin and Antioquia specific in spirit. The tone is friendly, and the pace feels like a real home evening. That warmth shows up again and again in what people say they remember most, not just how the empanadas tasted.

Casa 201 Welcome: Drink First, Then Learn the Empanada Story

Your experience starts with a welcome drink. That first sip does more than hydrate you. It sets the tone. You are not rushing straight into a kitchen task. You settle in, meet your guide, and get comfortable enough to ask questions.

Then you get a brief history of empanadas. It is not a lecture marathon. It is the kind of context that helps you understand why fillings matter and why the empanada became such a flexible Colombian staple. Even if you already like empanadas, this framing makes you pay attention while you cook, not just after you taste.

You will also start to see how the class is designed for different preferences. The format is built around choice, meaning you are not stuck with one filling idea. That makes the class feel personal, even in a small group.

The 150-Minute Flow: From Preparation to Cooking to Eating What You Made

This class is built for action. The timeline stays focused: welcome drink, empanada background, preparation and cooking, then enjoying what you make with another drink. There is a reason the session lasts 150 minutes. You get enough time to practice instead of rushing through steps.

During the preparation and cooking portion, you work alongside your guide and the hosts. The teaching style is practical, aimed at helping you produce empanadas you are actually proud of. You are not left alone with a counter and hope. Guidance is part of the experience.

What you should expect, realistically, is that you will do the work. You will assemble the empanadas, follow the cooking process, and then eat them soon after. That matters because empanadas taste best when they are fresh from the process you just learned.

A note on pacing

In small-group classes, the pace usually shifts to match the room. If you are fast, you can often refine your technique. If you are slower, you still get time. Either way, the format is meant to help you leave with a skill, not just a plate.

Fillings With Options: Meat, Chicken, Monthly Surprise, Plus Vegan

One of the strongest reasons to book this class is the filling system. You get to choose what goes inside, and the ingredients are handled according to your preference, including vegan needs.

Here are the specific options you can expect:

• Meat fillings
• Chicken fillings
• A special filling that changes every month
• Vegetarian: mushrooms, corn, cheese, and potato with hogao
• Vegan option: you can select ingredients based on preference

That monthly changing filling is a clever touch. It prevents the experience from feeling locked to one flavor profile. It also makes repeat visits more interesting, because the “special” part is not guaranteed to be the same next time.

Why this matters for your meal outcome

If you have ever taken a cooking class where everyone makes the same thing and you quietly eat around what you dislike, you already know the problem. Here, the structure is designed to reduce that. You can pick a filling that matches your taste, and your empanadas feel like they belong to you.

If you are vegan or vegetarian, this is also a confidence boost. You are not being handed a compromise. You are being offered a planned option, including a vegetarian filling that includes hogao.

Family Team Teaching: Warm Hosts, English Help, and Real Conversation

The most memorable ingredient in this class is the people. The experience is hosted by a home team, including sisters, with one person described as the empanada genius. That kind of family setup is not just charming. It changes how you learn.

When teaching comes from home cooks, the instructions tend to be clearer in the ways that matter most. People explain what they do, why they do it, and how they adjust based on filling. You also get a comfortable space to ask questions while you work.

Language is another big practical factor. The class is taught in English, and the hosts also speak some Portuguese. That means you will usually be able to communicate smoothly, even if your Spanish is basic or nonexistent.

Finally, the “share with locals and get to them” vibe is real here. This is not a sterile kitchen studio. It feels like being welcomed into a Colombian home, which is exactly why so many visitors mention the warmth and encouragement they received.

What You Get to Taste and Take Away (Without Overhyping It)

You leave with empanadas you made with your own hands, and you enjoy them during the session with another drink. That is the direct takeaway, and it is the main reason this class lands for first-timers.

The longer-term takeaway is the method mindset. You learn how the empanada becomes a vehicle for different flavors. Once you understand that, you can start thinking about your own fillings when you are back home.

You might also notice a small but important difference between cooking as a hobby and cooking as a home skill. Home cooking includes judgment calls: what the filling tastes like, how it holds up, how the empanada feels in assembly. A class like this is built to help you see those decisions up close.

Price and Value at $56: What Makes It Feel Reasonable

At $56 per person, you are paying for more than ingredients. You are paying for instruction in a real home kitchen, plus drinks, plus the time to make and enjoy multiple empanadas during a 150-minute session.

A class like this has a built-in value advantage compared to doing it solo. If you try to replicate this at home, you need two big things you do not get for free: guidance and the ability to choose fillings that match your dietary needs. Here, the “choice” part is handled with actual options, including vegan-friendly preparation and a specific vegetarian filling.

Is it the cheapest thing you can do in Medellin? Probably not. But it is not pretending to be. It is a cultural food experience with practical cooking output. If you want one ticket that gives you both conversation and a real skill, this price starts making sense.

Who This Empanada Class Fits Best in Your Medellin Plan

This is ideal if you:

• Want a hands-on food activity instead of a simple tasting
• Like meeting locals in a home setting
• Prefer a small group atmosphere
• Want vegan or vegetarian options that are actually built into the experience
• Are in Medellin for a short stay and want one focused, satisfying activity

It may be less ideal if you:

• Want a very formal, restaurant-style cooking environment
• Are not comfortable with active participation for the full 150 minutes
• Prefer to watch rather than do

The good news is the class is friendly and structured, and the group size stays small, limited to 9 participants. That usually makes it easier to get answers while you work.

Practical Tips Before You Go (So You Enjoy Every Minute)

The only “must” listed is a good disposition, a smile, and a good appetite. That is not just pep talk. In a hands-on cooking class, your attitude affects your learning speed and your comfort.

A few practical pointers:

• Come hungry. You will be cooking and then eating, and you will want to enjoy the results while everything is fresh.
• Be ready to taste and adjust. Cooking involves small judgment calls, and part of the lesson is learning through doing.
• If you have dietary preferences, communicate them clearly. The class is set up for vegan and vegetarian options, but you will get the best result by stating what you want.
• Plan your timing. This is a 150-minute block, so give it room in your day rather than stacking it right after something intense.

Also, since the class is in a home, expect a casual vibe. That is part of the charm. Treat it like a friendly cooking night you are invited to, not a formal demonstration.

Should You Book This Medellin Empanada-Making Class?

I think you should book it if you want a Medellin experience that is more than food. This class is built around interaction, not observation. You get to cook, choose fillings, and enjoy what you make in a family-style setting.

You might skip it if you dislike hands-on activities or if you are looking for a large, polished show with minimal participation. For everyone else, this is a strong value choice: a small group cooking lesson, dietary options, and a warm welcome in Antioquia, all for a single 150-minute commitment.

If your goal is one memorable, practical cultural activity, this is the kind of ticket that usually pays you back immediately when the empanadas come out.

FAQ

How long is the empanada-making experience in Medellin?

The experience lasts 150 minutes.

Where does the class take place?

It takes place in Antioquia, Colombia, and the meeting point is Casa 201.

What is the price per person?

The price is $56 per person.

What is included in the experience?

It includes a local welcome drink, a brief history of empanadas, preparation and cooking of empanadas with different flavor options based on your preferences, and enjoying the empanadas with another drink.

Do they offer vegetarian or vegan options?

Yes. Vegetarian options are listed as mushrooms, corn, cheese, and potato with hogao. Ingredients can be adapted according to your preference, and vegan options are supported.

What group size should I expect?

It is a small group, limited to 9 participants.

Is the instruction offered in English?

Yes, the instructor speaks English, and the hosts also speak some Portuguese.