Medellin: Learn to make Colombian empanadas from scratch

Making empanadas in a Colombian family home gives you more than a cooking lesson. At Casa 201, you work with a local sister team, shape the dough with your own hands, choose your filling, and eat what you make. It is a direct, friendly way to connect with Medellin through one of Colombia’s favorite foods.

I like the small group size, capped at nine, because everyone gets room to practice rather than watch from the back. I also like the choice of fillings, especially the vegetarian options and the special filling that changes each month. The main consideration is simple: if you want a fast restaurant meal or a polished professional kitchen, this home-based class may feel informal.

Key points to know before you book

• You cook in a Colombian family home: Casa 201 offers a personal setting rather than a large commercial cooking school.
• The class lasts 150 minutes: You have time to hear the background of empanadas, prepare, cook, and sit down to eat.
• You choose your own flavor: Options include meat, chicken, a monthly special, mushrooms, corn, cheese, and potato with hogao.
• The group is limited to nine people: That makes it easier to get help while shaping and cooking.
• The class is taught in English: The hosts also speak some Portuguese.
• You receive drinks along the way: A local welcome drink begins the visit, followed by another drink with the empanadas.

Why this Medellin cooking class feels personal

The most appealing part of this experience is the setting. You are welcomed into a family home, where cooking is part of everyday life and the hosts have made empanadas a family specialty. The empanada expert is one of the sisters, who works with her sister to guide the class.

That family connection matters. A cooking lesson in a home can show you small habits and working methods that a restaurant kitchen may not. You are not simply handed a finished snack and told where it came from. You help make it, ask questions, and share the table afterward.

The hosts speak English, and some Portuguese as well. The class is listed with an English-speaking instructor, and the teaching includes translations when needed. Still, this is a hands-on food experience, so you do not need advanced language skills to follow along. The dough, fillings, shaping, and cooking all make sense through demonstration.

The tone is warm and encouraging. Several participants have found the hosts kind and patient, with enough time to practice and improve. That makes this a good pick if your first attempt at an empanada looks more like a folded map than a neat half-moon.

A welcome drink and a short story behind the food

The experience begins with a local welcome drink. This is a small detail, but it helps set the pace. You are not rushed straight into a work station. You have a moment to meet the hosts and settle into the home.

Next comes a brief history of empanadas. Do not expect a full food lecture or a formal culinary seminar. The history portion is designed to give context before you start cooking, including where the food comes from and how different fillings fit into the Colombian tradition.

That short introduction adds meaning to the practical work. An empanada is easy to treat as a quick snack, but the class shows you the care behind it: preparing the filling, working the dough, sealing the edges, and cooking it properly. You begin to see why small changes in ingredients and technique affect the final result.

The history is brief, which is a good match for the two-and-a-half-hour format. Most of your time goes to making food rather than listening to a long talk.

Choosing between meat, chicken, and vegetarian fillings

One useful feature is the freedom to choose your filling according to your preference. The meat and chicken options suit the classic savory side of the menu. A special filling also changes each month, giving repeat visitors a reason to return.

Vegetarians have several choices rather than one token substitute. The listed options include mushrooms, corn, cheese, and potato with hogao. Hogao is a Colombian-style sauce made with cooked vegetables, and here it brings extra flavor to the potato filling.

This choice works well for mixed groups. One person can choose chicken, another can make mushroom empanadas, and someone else can try cheese or potato with hogao. You are not locked into a single recipe, and the variety gives you a chance to compare flavors at the table.

The available information does not specify every ingredient or how many empanadas each person makes. You should think of the class as a guided cooking session, not a fixed tasting menu with a guaranteed number of portions. The focus is on learning the method and enjoying what you prepare.

Preparing the dough and shaping your own empanadas

The central part of the class is the preparation. You work with the hosts to make the empanadas by hand, rather than watching a demonstration and receiving food prepared in advance.

This is where the small group helps. With no more than nine participants, the instructor can offer guidance as you handle the dough, add the filling, and close each pastry. You will have time to repeat the process, correct mistakes, and get a better shape on the next one.

The shaping stage is likely to be the most satisfying part for first timers. Colombian empanadas have a firm, folded form, and the seal needs to hold while the food cooks. Your first attempt may not look perfect. That is part of the fun, and the hosts are described as encouraging rather than critical.

The lesson is suitable for families and groups with mixed cooking ability. A family of four has been able to take part fully alongside another participant, with everyone involved in the process. You do not need to arrive with kitchen experience. You need a good attitude, a smile, and an appetite.

Cooking, eating, and the value of a shared table

Once the empanadas are prepared, you cook them with the guidance of the hosts. The exact cooking equipment and method are not specified, so you should not expect a detailed technical class on professional frying or kitchen science. The useful point is that you take part in the cooking and then eat the result.

The meal is paired with another drink. That gives the class a natural finish: welcome, learn, prepare, cook, and share. You leave with a better sense of how a simple Colombian snack moves from ingredients to table.

Some participants have had enough empanadas to take a few home. That may depend on the fillings, group, and amount prepared, so I would treat it as a possible bonus rather than a promise. Either way, you are not only tasting a sample made by somebody else. Your own work is part of the meal.

The shared table also gives the experience its social value. Cooking creates easy conversation, even when people arrive from different countries or do not know one another. You can compare shapes, fillings, and results without needing a formal activity to keep the conversation going.

What the 150-minute schedule means for you

Two and a half hours is a comfortable length for this class. It gives enough time for a drink and introduction, the empanada story, preparation, cooking, and eating without turning the experience into an all-day commitment.

You should allow the full 150 minutes rather than planning a tight connection immediately afterward. Cooking has small pauses, and a friendly home visit can take its own pace. The duration also means you get more than a quick demonstration, but it does not take up an entire afternoon.

The limited group size is important here. A larger class could make the hands-on part feel crowded, especially when everyone is working with dough and fillings. With up to nine people, you have a better chance of receiving personal help and staying involved from start to finish.

The meeting point is Casa 201 in Antioquia, Medellin. Check the exact starting time when booking, since several start times may be available. Transportation is not listed as part of the activity, so plan your own way to the meeting point.

Is $56 a fair price?

At $56 per person, this is not the cheapest way to eat empanadas in Medellin. You can find the food itself for far less. The price is paying for the time, instruction, drinks, ingredients, small group setting, and access to a family home.

The value is strongest if you want a personal cultural activity rather than only a meal. You receive a welcome drink, a short food history, guided preparation, cooking time, and another drink while you eat. You also get to choose ingredients, including several vegetarian fillings.

The price makes less sense if you already know how to make Colombian empanadas or if you are mainly seeking a large meal. This is a learning experience with food at its center, not an inexpensive lunch replacement.

For families, couples, and small groups, the cost can be worthwhile because everyone takes part. The class has been especially well received by people who want a close look at daily Colombian cooking. Its overall rating is 4.9 from 18 reviews, with strong praise for the hosts, clear instruction, welcoming home setting, and tasty results.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this class if you want to meet local people through a practical activity. It suits first time cooks, families, couples, solo visitors, and groups with different food preferences.

It is also a good choice for vegetarians. The menu includes mushrooms, corn, cheese, and potato with hogao, so you have several options instead of being limited to a plain cheese filling. If you eat meat, chicken and beef options are available, along with a changing monthly special.

The class works well for people who enjoy relaxed cultural contact. You are welcomed into a home, not moved through a series of photo stops. That means the experience may feel less formal, but the tradeoff is a more direct connection with the hosts.

I would be more cautious if you need a highly structured professional cooking school, a guaranteed menu in advance, or exact information about portion size. Those details are not provided. The strength here is the human setting and the chance to learn by doing.

Booking details worth keeping in mind

The activity is conducted in English, and the hosts speak some Portuguese as well. The group is limited to nine participants, so booking ahead is sensible if you want a particular time.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. The reserve now and pay later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately, which is useful while your Medellin plans are still shifting.

The practical packing list is short: bring a good disposition, a smile, and a good appetite. Since this is a cooking activity, wear something you are comfortable working in, but no special equipment is listed as necessary.

Should you book the Medellin empanada class?

Book it if you want to cook with local hosts, learn a beloved Colombian food, and share a meal in a family home. The strongest reasons are the small group, the choice of fillings, the welcoming sister team, and the time allowed for real hands-on practice.

Skip it if you only want the lowest-cost empanada meal or a formal professional kitchen lesson. At $56, the food alone is not the value. The value is the conversation, instruction, family setting, and satisfaction of eating something you shaped and cooked yourself.

For most visitors who want a warm, low-pressure way to connect with Medellin, this is a solid choice.

FAQ

Where does the empanada class take place?

The meeting point is Casa 201 in Antioquia, Medellin.

How long does the experience last?

The class lasts 150 minutes, or two and a half hours.

How much does the activity cost?

The price is $56 per person.

What fillings are available?

Options include meat, chicken, and a special filling that changes each month. Vegetarian options include mushrooms, corn, cheese, and potato with hogao.

Is the class suitable for vegetarians?

Yes. Several vegetarian fillings are available, including mushrooms, corn, cheese, and potato with hogao.

What language is the class taught in?

The instructor teaches in English. The hosts also speak some Portuguese.

How many people can join the class?

The activity is a small-group experience limited to nine participants.