Traditional Cooking Class in Oaxaca: Home-Cooked Meals with Minerva Lopez

Immerse yourself in the authentic flavors and traditions of Oaxaca with Minerva Lopez’s traditional cooking class. Learn to cook like a local in a small, intimate setting, using fresh, organic ingredients from the local market. Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or meat lover, there’s something for everyone. Join us for a unique culinary experience that goes beyond just a class.

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • C. Monterrey 1370 - A warm welcome awaits you at my traditional wood-fired stove.\nAs an award-winning instructor in Traditional Oaxacan Cuisine and the recipient of the 1st Place prize at the Oaxacan Traditional Cooks Meet, I’m excited to guide you.\nOur journey begins with a stroll through Oaxaca’s largest market, where we’ll explore indigenous and regional foods and procure the freshest, most genuine ingredients.\nYou’ll learn to craft from the ground up dishes like Mole Negro or Mole Coloradito, as well as Green and Yellow Moles, not to mention Nixtamal for making tortillas, memelitas, and empanadas. We’ll also delve into crafting Molcajete Sauces and other bona fide Oaxacan specialties (PLEASE INQUIRE ABOUT THE MENU FOR YOUR BOOKED DATE, AS IT INCLUDES SEASONAL, VEGETARIAN, AND VEGAN OPTIONS).\nThroughout the culinary class, we’ll indulge in local fruit beverages and savor quesillo and Grasshoppers as we prepare our chosen dish.\nTo cap off our session, we’ll relish the dishes we’ve created, accompanied by a fine Mezcal, and you’ll have the opportunity to take home the fruits of our labor.
What's Included
  • Seasonal dessert indulgence
  • Savor a delightful lunch
  • Diverse menu: Vegetarian, Vegan, & Gluten-Free options
  • Refreshing seasonal fruit waters
  • Authentic mezcal cocktail experience
  • Explore with a local market tour
  • Comfortable travel with in-vehicle air conditioning
  • Enjoyable snacks included
What's Not Included
  • Beer or soda
Meal Options
  • House chocolate with bread - A chocolate drink is served accompanied with traditional bread

  • hand tortillas - Learn to make tortillas by hand on a clay griddle or pre-Hispanic stove

  • OPTION 1 Oaxacan Mole - available moles(10)
    you can choose 1 of them
    BLACK MOLE
    reddish
    chichilo
    green
    yellow
    yellow mixe
    stew
    nutty
    manchamanteles

  • Option 2 Experience with corn - 2 different sauces are prepared with endemic chilies and tomatoes
    Quedillas with pumpkin flower and cheese
    memelitas
    yellow mole

  • OPTION 3 OAXACAN TAMALES - The black mole tamale is prepared in banana leaf and two more to choose from
    -green sauce
    -slices of chili
    -bean
    -sweet

  • OPTION 4 DISH OF YOUR CHOICE - ASK ABOUT THE SEASONAL INGREDIENTS AND DISHES

  • Typical Seasonal Dessert - Native or exotic fruits that we buy in the market, seasonal desserts
    Example
    roasted bananas
    Corn dessert (nicoatole)
    Oaxacan sweets

Additional Information

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT:
IT IS NOT A RESTAURANT, I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF A CHEF

I am Minerva Lopez and I am a traditional cook from Oaxaca and I have more than 40 years of experience in pre-Hispanic and traditional cooking.

I invite you to spend a day at my house, with my family, my culture, it is an authentic experience where you will learn to cook as I learned, as if it were with mom!
Our groups are small which makes for an intimate, family experience
The market that we visited is the largest in Oaxaca and it is not touristic, where the locals go to buy our fresh and organic ingredients, here it is possible to adapt our menu to your tastes
There are vegan, vegetarian and meat lovers options.
At home away from the city in a small town, our outdoor wood stove is the best place to cook.
Everything we will eat is prepared at home
MORE THAN A CLASS IS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF FLAVORS AND KNOWLEDGE

Location
Gral. Antonio de León 1
General Antonio de León
WE CAN AGREE ON A PLACE OF DEPARTURE OR THE ZOCALO OF THE CD OF OAXACA, IN FRONT OF THE CATHEDRAL. ALSO IN THE LESCAS CO TOURS OFFICE, THEY ARE FRIENDS OF MINE AND CAN WAIT IN THEIR OFFICE ANTONIO DE LEON NO. 1 LOCAL I IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN CONTACT ME BY CALL OR WHATSAPP +529512903409
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(129 Ratings)
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Lindsay_s
Sep 18, 2024
Great for foodies who want to learn more - This experience was exactly what we were looking for! The market was so cool, and we never would have been able to experience how the locals shop without Minerva. It’s like a maze, and everyone knows her. The ride to her house was about 20 minutes, and the property is lovely. Outdoor wood fire kitchen, garden, dining — it was all perfect. We loved the corn experience, and learning how to make tortillas. I envy Minerva and her teams ability to make them so flawlessly. The food was delicious, truly the best tortillas I’ve ever had. This tour is great for curious people — ask lots of questions! Minerva and her translator were always quick with an answer.
Review provided by Viator
Isabel_c
Sep 4, 2024
3 Texans in Oaxaca - Shopping at the locals market and the one to one interaction with Minerva who very knowledgeable and happy to explain and clarify. The translator, Sandy, who was with us the entirety was very personable and helpful for those who didn’t speak Spanish. Can now appreciate the complexity of making mole. Eating the Mole Negro and the tortillas we help make was so satisfying. Thank you Minerva and your ayudantes.
Review provided by Viator
Denise_b
Sep 4, 2024
Magnificent Minerva! - The tour of the local market was fantastic! I never would of known of it if I hadn't done the tour. The mole negro was delicious. Minerva was adorable and her kitchen and garden was lovely.
Review provided by Viator
Safari60674245922
Aug 22, 2024
Must-see experience if you visit Oaxaca - Super recommended! If you go to Oaxaca it is an experience that you cannot miss!!! My family and I will try to return to take another course soon!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C3860qsmariag
Aug 11, 2024
Mole negro cooking class - We loved the cooking class, Minerba and her family were very polite and attentive. Would def recommend this class! Our mole tasted amazing!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_b
Aug 4, 2024
Such a great experience! - This cooking class was everything we could have wanted. The trip through the market was amazing and it was great to have a guide as the market is huge. The class is held at Minerva's house with a translator and we made several dishes. She provided the recipes for us to recreate at home and taught us tricks and explained the tools used in traditional Oaxacan cooking. I would highly reccomend to anyone!
Review provided by Viator
Michelle_e
Aug 2, 2024
Unique Experience, phenomenal host - So glad we selected Minerva's class. Upon meeting her we shuttled to El Mercado de Abastos to select our ingredients for our meal (just a heads up this mercado has a reputation for pick pockets but we had no issues). We then shuttle to her house in the outskirts of the city. Once you go through the gate you are welcomed by a lush garden and cozy cooking atmosphere. Our group of 3 helped prepare and cook the meal and we enjoyed eating and talking with Minerva. She is an incredibly gracious and humble woman. We are Spanish speakers which is nice but she also offers an interpreter if needed .
Review provided by Viator
Christina_c
Jul 28, 2024
Cook with Minerva! - I found this option on Instagram, and finally had chance to visit Oaxaca. This was a must on our list. The meeting point was easy to find in the zocalo area. Ms. Minerva had transportation ready for us, then we went to the market and bought our fresh ingredients. She took time to explain about the market, and we even stopped for tastings. Her home where the class is held is beautiful. She and the others were very kind and patient with everyone learning to cook. Would recommend this if you’d like a unique experience of the culture in Oaxaca. I would definitely go back! Gracias, Minerva!
Review provided by Viator
Flora_l
Jul 26, 2024
Great experience - It was a great experience. Minerva and her staff were awesome and were very detailed. I highly recommend her class.
Review provided by Viator
Roxanne_k
Jul 16, 2024
Lovely Experience - Lovely experience all around! From shopping for ingredients in the market to cooking in Minerva’s beautiful outdoor kitchen, it was a very special morning/afternoon. The food was delicious and we learned a lot about the dishes we prepared.
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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