Take a trip to Mexico without leaving Colorado Springs with this in-home cooking class

Book this in-home cooking class and learn how to make delicious Mexican cuisine

Colorado Springs has many fun local attractions. From the Garden of the Gods to Manitou Springs to numerous cultural activities at the local museums, there are countless extraordinary things to do. But for those looking for something unusual, less touristy, and definitely tasty, a cooking class should land a spot on your calendar. 

Experience the flavors, aromas, and music of Mexico during a Cocina Corazón cooking class. Whether it’s tamales, enchiladas, or a delicious mole sauce, Cocina Corazón dishes it up with flare!

Recently, two of our staff members (Behr and Jason) had a private cooking class in Behr’s own home! You can choose to have your class at Chef Barbara Santos‘ in-studio kitchen, or you could host it your own kitchen!

What’s on the menu? Specialty enchiladas and so much more!

The particular class featured Enchiladas Suizas. “Suiza” is Spanish for “Swiss” and refers to the creamy sauce and generous use of mozzarella heaped on top at the end.

Upon arrival, Chef Barbara warmly greeted each guest with a hospitable hello and un abrazo (a hug). To kick off our Latin culinary journey, she offered us chips, homemade salsa, and homemade refried beans, warning us that we would work up an appetite over the next couple of hours of cooking in the kitchen.

After donning our aprons and personalized chef’s hats, the class began with Barbara and her assistant, Concha, explaining the various peppers and spices we would use throughout the night. This overview gave us an appreciation for each ingredient and how carefully they were selected.

Making the Sauce

After learning the correct way to pick poblanos and the best ways to store them, we began roasting these mild peppers in the oven at a high heat. As they charred, we learned about the “molcajete,” which is a type of mortar and pestle made out of fine-grained lava rock.

We got to work making a paste for our sauce by mashing sesame seeds and garlic in the molcajete. Once the poblanos were thoroughly charred, we set them aside in a plastic bag to rest. This “sauna,” as described by Barbara, allows for the peppers to sweat, plus it makes the skin much easier to remove.

While our peppers were in their “sauna,” we began heating up the tomatillos and jalapeños in a saucepan with water. We kept a careful watch to make sure they did not burst. As we took turns watching the sauce pan, Barbara engaged the group in light-hearted conversation, weaving in the history of her native country and the dishes we were eating. We even got to take a salsa-dancing break when Barbara’s favorite song came on!

Playing the “Hot” Game

When the poblanos and the pan sautéd peppers were done, it was time to make our sauce! We added the peppers according to our preferred spice level and mashed sesame and garlic paste into the blender. Barbara had us play a game where we each had to taste the sauce after it was blended, and the loudness of our cheers would determine if we needed to add more peppers or not! Our group of friends were a lively bunch, so Barbara made sure to match our energy and made it fun for all of us! 

Once we settled on spice level, we were ready to build the enchiladas. We took turns building the enchiladas with chicken, and then we smothered them in the sauce. After finishing the enchiladas with mozzarella, we popped them into the oven to let the magic happen!

Since we were celebrating a birthday, our group decorated aprons while we waited. Barbara was super engaging and talkative, and she even planned a trail run with our Tour Leader, Behr, who recently completed the Pikes Peak Marathon!

The Finished Product

The aroma of the enchiladas filled the room, and we were eager to dig in! Once they were ready, Barbara taught us the proper way to build our plates, which included a nicely packed cup of rice and a dollop of cream cheese on top of each enchilada.

We were all in awe of how well the flavors mixed, and we had no leftovers at the end of the night! Plus, we were pretty proud to hear Barbara and Concha say that this was the best sauce they have ever made with a group. Whether it’s true or not, our group loved our experience, and it was a unique and engaging way to come together and celebrate!

Thank you, Chef Barbara!

Whether you are a tourist looking for something unique to do or a local wanting explore Mexican cuisine, Barbara at Cocina Corazón will take you on a journey of the sounds, history, and foods of her country as she dishes up hearty recipes of her beloved homeland. Perfect for all ages, birthday parties, date night, or girls night out! You can find a list of upcoming classes here!

Muchas, muchas gracias a Barbara, Concha, y Cocina Corazón! Behr y Jason están muy agredicidos de conocerte.
(Many, many thanks to Barbara, Concha, and Cocina Corazón! Behr and Jason are very grateful to know you.)

Cheers, Your Rocky Mountain Food Tours Team

(So, what’s a food tour, anyway…?)

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