Latin America is legendary for its scrumptious meals, and Colombia doesn’t disappoint. In reality, sampling Colombian meals is without doubt one of the prime causes to go to Colombia. Like its nation, Colombian delicacies is numerous and thrilling.
You might spot the odd Caribbean meals or Peruvian dish in these 28 greatest dishes – Colombian delicacies is massively influenced by its surrounding areas and colonial historical past. The nation is cut up into six areas, every of which has its personal regional specialties as nicely. Keep in mind that there are regional variations when touring round Colombia’s must-see cities – you don’t need to miss out on a specialty dish.
28 Conventional Colombian Dishes
Able to discover one of the best Colombian meals? Whether or not you need to attempt some Colombian delicacies at residence or are visiting Colombia and are excited to attempt native dishes, this information will introduce you to one of the best. We’ll cowl every part, from Empanadas to Frijoles Rojos. Let’s dive straight in.
1. Colombian Empanadas
Colombian empanadas have been a favourite dish since colonial occasions. Its look is very similar to a Cornish pasty, and the pastry is folded over with a filling inside. It’s simple to identify with its attribute semi-circle form and pinched edge.
You’ll discover floor meat, potatoes, cheese, and hogao (tomato salsa sauce) inside. In fact, there are some recipe variations – particularly for meat-free variations of the dish. Colombian empanadas are easy to make at residence and scrumptious to eat in Colombia. If you would like a fast, simple snack, empanadas are top-of-the-line Colombian dishes.
If you wish to attempt an empanada earlier than you journey to Colombia, you can comply with this recipe to make your individual at residence.
2. Pandebono
The legend behind pandebono is that an Italian baker dwelling in Cali created the bread. When he offered it, he used to stroll the streets shouting ‘pane del buono’ (good bread); the identify caught, and the bread turned one of the vital well-liked Colombian meals.
So, what’s it precisely? The bread can be nicknamed Colombian cheese bread, which ought to offer you trace. It’s made with melted cheese, yuca flour, and eggs and formed into bagel or ball shapes. You may eat pandebono at breakfast, as road meals, or as a facet at dinner – it’s a versatile dish. Keep in mind that it’s best eaten when it’s nonetheless heat out of the oven. Pandebono is a dish supposed to be eaten as contemporary as doable.
To get within the temper to your Colombian travels, make your individual Pandebono at residence with this recipe.
3. Bandeja Paisa
Bandeja paisa might be essentially the most iconic Colombian meals on this information. Some even go so far as to name it the nationwide dish. Bandeja paisa is a platter-styled meal with an assortment of meats, a fried egg, white rice, corn, plantain, crimson beans, and an avocado. The meats embrace minced beef and chorizo sausage to chicharron. You’ll often discover an Arepa on the plate, too (extra on that later).
Bandeja paisa is typical of Colombia’s Antioquia area and, like frijoles rojos, was excellent for staff spending lengthy days within the mountains and on farms. Bandeja paisa packs a nutritious punch and is full of protein and carbohydrates. It stays a preferred lunch selection and is one to attempt should you go to Colombia. Make your recipe at residence by following this recipe.
4. Frijoles Rojos
Frijoles Rojos is a particular Colombian dish that makes use of cargamento beans, additionally known as crimson beans. This Colombian meals is especially wholesome, and crimson beans are an incredible supply of iron, potassium, low-fat protein, and fiber. It’s a stew-like concoction, and the crimson beans are blended with tomatoes, onion, and garlic. It’s then often served on prime of a portion of rice.
Frijoles rojos was initially a laborer’s meal. It’s budget-friendly and full of vitality and vitamins – excellent for fueling a tough day at work. Nonetheless, Frijoles Rojos have grow to be a extensively eaten dish in Colombian delicacies. Watch this simple video to make it your self.
5. Bananos Calados
Bananos calados is considered one of Colombia’s greatest desserts and comes from the Quindio area, close to the Andes. It won’t look (or sound) appetizing, however it’s simply one of many tastiest meals you may attempt from Colombian delicacies. The dessert consists of fried bananas blended with lime juice and served with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, making a candy but tangy deal with to your tastebuds. Sometimes, you might also discover the lime juice changed by orange juice and cinnamon – so hold your eye out for any distinctive recipes.
Colombia has plenty of native fruit, and you’ll simply see that this has impressed many conventional recipes. Bananos calados are one meals to attempt if you wish to expertise Colombia’s dessert scene. Make this scrumptious candy at residence to deliver again recollections of your travels to Colombia.
6. Chicharron Colombiano
Chicharron Colombiano is fried pork stomach, a hearty dish lined in onions, bay leaves, and seasoning for an excellent style. Chicharron is full of taste and served with a crisp texture that has been perfected over generations of cooking. It’s a typical dinner dish and is related to household and custom.
The dish is typical of Colombia’s Andean area. Nonetheless, it originated in Spain and was launched to Colombia by Spanish colonizers. The Spanish recipe varies drastically; rind or stomach cuts can be utilized, in contrast to the Colombian model. You’ll discover that almost all nations in Latin America have their very own model of chicharron. Get able to attempt as many various variations as doable. Colombia has since taken a agency spin on the dish, although, and chicharron has nicely and really entered Colombian delicacies.
7. Coconut rice
Overlook white rice; coconut rice is the tastiest. As its identify could recommend, coconut rice is cooked with coconuts, giving it a yummy taste and getting it a spot on this record as a meal in its personal proper. There are two primary methods coconut rice is ready: cooking it in coconut milk or mixing it with shredded coconut. Cooking it in coconut milk is one of the best, as you get a stronger coconut taste.
The historical past of coconut rice is a little bit of a thriller. The dish is scattered throughout the globe, particularly in Asia and South America. Nonetheless, since coconuts are considered one of Colombia’s commonest tropical fruits, it’s no thriller why they’re so prevalent in Colombian delicacies. In case you get the prospect to attempt it, coconut rice is a tasty dish.
8. Pescado Frito
Pescado Frito is a basic, conventional Colombian meals. Pescado Frito interprets as fried fish and is served entire, with pores and skin and head intact. It may be a bit of daunting should you aren’t used to consuming fish like this. Nonetheless, you’ll quickly be gained over, as cooking the fish in its pores and skin boosts its taste and retains the fish meat moist. You may count on a lot juicer meat than you’d get consuming fillets and fish steaks.
In Colombia, the fried fish is often mojarra or crimson snapper. The fish is sliced after which flavored with lime and seasoning, usually sitting within the juice for some time to essentially take in the flavour. It’s served with rice, plantain, and salad – the right lunch dish.
9. Arepa de Huevo
Arepa de huevo is a variation of normal arepas, that are fried corn truffles. Arepas are a massively well-liked breakfast meals and are additionally thought-about considerably of a consolation meals. Arepa de huevo are one of many tastiest variations with egg. Making ready them includes frying a corn cake, splitting it, and filling it with an egg, then frying it once more to cook dinner the egg inside. The result’s a fried egg coated in fried bread.
It’s no shock that arepas de huevos are one of the vital well-liked dishes – particularly for breakfast. They’re served in stacks (like pancakes) as a standalone dish. Simply choose your sauce to match, salsa and bitter cream are nice decisions. See this recipe to get up with a style of Colombia.
10. Sopa de Pollo
Sopa de pollo interprets as hen soup, and it’s one other comforting meal in Colombian delicacies. It’s truthful to say that it’s in all probability the most common Colombian soup and is extensively eaten throughout the nation. The hen soup can be full of plantain, corn, potatoes, and yuca. In reality, it’s so stuffed with elements that it usually seems extra like a stew than a soup.
In fact, hen soup is discovered worldwide, however Colombia’s model is especially scrumptious. The mix of elements like plantain and yuca is far more distinctive, and sometimes Colombian recipes use a whole hen.
Sopa de pollo is a wonderful Colombian meals to attempt when visiting or to recreate at residence. It’s best cooked slow-cooked and served piping sizzling and is a kind of one-pot dishes the entire household loves.
11. Morcilla
Morcilla is a blood sausage made with floor pork and pork blood. Morcillas are simply noticed due to their darkish, deep reddish-brown colour. They’re a really conventional dish throughout Latin America. You shouldn’t have any downside discovering some to attempt should you go to Colombia. And should you like black pudding, you’re in for a deal with.
Morcillas are ready from scratch, and the method includes squeezing the combination into sausage casings. The bottom meat is blended with pork blood, onions, and rice earlier than being put into casings. Colombian recipes have a tendency so as to add cilantro and sometimes inexperienced peas as nicely. The sausages are then often boiled to cook dinner.
12. Cazuela de Mariscos
Prepared for a Colombian seafood dish? Cazuela de mariscos is without doubt one of the hottest Colombian dishes in coastal areas, particularly alongside the Caribbean Coast and Cartegena. It’s a typical meals and seafood casserole or seafood stew – full of every part from prawns to mussels and lobster. The meats are cooked in coconut milk with a combination of greens. You may even have white wine and cheese added to the combo if you’re fortunate.
Cazuela de mariscos is an iconic dish when visiting Colombia’s shoreline. What is healthier than a contemporary seafood dish? More often than not, the elements have been simply caught out of the Caribbean Sea. That is undoubtedly one to your record whenever you go to Colombia. Or attempt making it at residence with this yummy recipe.
13. Colombian Bunuelos
Bunuelos are deep-fried balls full of contemporary cheese – an ideal afternoon snack or breakfast chunk. Unusually sufficient, they’re usually served alongside sizzling chocolate and occasional, so you may usually discover bunuelos at cafes in Colombia.
Bunuelos are one of the vital well-liked Colombian meals. The recipe creates dough from yucca flour, cornstarch, eggs, milk, and sugar. The deep-fried dough is then made, with the bunuelos organized into their attribute appetizer-sized ball form and floated in a pan of boiling vegetable oil.
It’s thought that bunuelos had been launched to Colombia by Spanish invaders. The snack is now eaten throughout Colombia as road meals and cafe or restaurant deal with. Bunuelos are particularly well-liked at Christmas time. We discovered this easy to comply with recipe on YouTube
14. Obleas
Obleas isn’t just a typical Colombian dish; it’s loved throughout Spain and Latin America. Obleas seems like a sandwich, and that’s exactly what it’s. The basic dessert consists of two wafers that sandwich a filling of dulce de leche and sometimes a combination of fruit, whipped cream, and jam. The Colombian model is sort of similar however provides one particular ingredient – Colombian caramel.
In case you’ve bought a candy tooth, obleas are top-of-the-line typical Colombian desserts to attempt. You’ll discover them in every single place, from cafes to road stalls.
15. Lechona
Lechona is a Colombian meals for particular events. The dish consists of a complete roasted pig full of onions, peas, potatoes, pork fats, white rice, garlic, and spices like cumin. After the pig has had its bones eliminated and has been stuffed, it’s positioned within the oven and slow-cooked (usually for as much as ten hours).
For sure, lechona is meant to be the culinary masterpiece of the desk. It’s a dish designed to be shared with massive teams of individuals whenever you need to splash out on a flowery meal. You’ll usually discover particular person servings of lechona at eating places round Colombia, although, so hold your eyes peeled.
16. Cholado
Let’s set Colombian meals apart for a second. Cholado is without doubt one of the greatest drinks in Colombia, so let’s introduce you. The drink is a refreshing combination of shaved ice, contemporary fruit, and sweetened condensed milk. Relying on the place you get one, you might also discover the drink served with ice cream, wafers, and whipped cream.
Cholado originates from Jamundi in Valle de Cauca. It’s a combine between dessert, fruit cocktail, and drink – ticking all of the packing containers creatively and deliciously. In case you love contemporary fruit and candy treats, it’s a nice drink to attempt when visiting Colombia, but easy sufficient to recreate at residence.
17. Carimanola
Carimanolas are simple to identify. The tiny fritters are formed into attribute torpedo shapes, often served in bulk as bitesize appetizers. They’re a standard Colombian meals, though you’ll additionally discover carimanolas in different Southern American nations like Panama.
Inside, carimanolas are full of floor beef or shredded hen, cheese, and seasoning. The fritters are then deep-fried to create a kind of meat pie. They’re mild and crispy on the skin but mushy on the within. Most of the time, carimanolas include aji sauce. This vibrant inexperienced sauce primarily consists of cilantro and is good and spicy – the right facet. Wish to attempt them earlier than your travels? Head over to comply with this recipe
18. Colombian Sopa de Mondongo
Whereas mondongo usually has a stew-like consistency, it’s really one other typical Colombian soup. The soup consists of onion, potato, beef tripe, chorizo, and pork, all served piping sizzling in a small bowl. It’s a extremely conventional Colombian meals, and also you’ll discover mondongo at most eating places throughout the nation.
Like many Colombian dishes, sopa de mondongo is believed to have been launched by Spanish colonizers. The tomato-based soup has been firmly adopted into the Colombian culinary scene, although, and Colombian variations of the recipe have a particular twist.
19. Fritanga
Fritanga is a platter dish. The dish is extensively offered amongst road meals distributors and consists of a combination of meals heaped onto a big plate – often barbecued on the road. So, what meals will you discover in fritanga? Normally, chorizo, sausage, plantain, and a combination of greens.
Fritanga is a Nicaraguan dish, though it has grow to be adopted into Colombian delicacies. The story behind its origin is a tragic one. The meal was first created after the 1931 earthquake, which hit Nicaragua, and folks cooked meals on the road with barbecues.
Now, you’ll discover fritanga cooked throughout Latin America and Colombia. It’s a historic, tasty, and filling dish to attempt.
20. Bocadillo
A bocadillo is a scrumptious Colombian meals made with guava paste – a product of a preferred tropical fruit. The dish is extraordinarily candy and a particular deal with and dessert. It has a melt-in-your-mouth texture however is in any other case not sticky to the contact. Bocadillos solely require a couple of elements, largely panela and guava pulp, so they’re easy to make if you wish to recreate the dish at residence.
You’ll usually discover bocadillos served at cafes, often alongside a slice of salty white cheese. They arrive reduce into little rectangles or squares and are the right bitesize treats.
21. Aborrajados
Aborrajados are one dish that you just don’t discover as simply. It originated within the Valley de Cauca and is a regional specialty. The artistic (if barely bizarre-sounding) dish consists of deep-fried plantain full of cheese to create a crispy, wholesome cheese chunk. The easiest place to attempt aborrajados is within the area of the Valley de Cauca itself, the place you’ll discover the dish most prevalently anyway.
Aborrajados are served as snacks or appetizers earlier than a big meal. Don’t rule out the dish at pudding time, although, as you may add guava paste to the fried dish to create a candy deal with for dessert.
22. Arroz con Pollo
Arroz con pollo actually interprets as rice with hen. It’s a easy however staple Colombian meals and very similar to Spanish paella. The dish consists of rice, hen, onion, and greens, with saffron tossed by way of the combination for added taste.
If you would like a filling dish, arroz con pollo is a superb selection. Plus, it’s simple to search out and is extensively served at eating places and road vendor stalls throughout Colombia. It’s believed that arroz con pollo originated in Spain whereas the nation was underneath Moorish affect. When Spanish colonizers arrived in Colombia, it’s presumed that the dish was launched to Colombian meals tradition.
23. Cocadas Blancas
We’ve lined heaps from Colombia’s coastal area. However what a couple of dessert from the Caribbean Coast? Cocadas blancas is an excellent candy dessert to your record. The dish is made with a mixture of shredded coconut, sugar, milk, and coconut water. Relying on the place you attempt it, you might also discover additional elements like cinnamon – most individuals have their very own twist on the basic recipe.
Cocadas blancas are often offered on the road and alongside Colombia’s seashores. Nonetheless, yow will discover them on dessert menus in eating places too. They’re scrumptious meals, sticky and candy. You’re in for a deal with attempting one.
24. Colombian Sizzling Chocolate
Talking of desserts, sizzling chocolate is one other candy deal with that Colombia excels at. The Colombian model of sizzling chocolate is named Santafereno. It is extremely totally different from the European and American variations of the drink. As an alternative of candy milk chocolate, the Colombian model makes use of darkish, unsweetened chocolate. Santafereno is usually made in water, not milk, with cinnamon or cloves usually added to counteract any bitterness. It might sound unusual, however Colombians are additionally well-known for dipping cheese of their sizzling chocolate – which you will or could not need to attempt.
One other factor that’s necessary to know is that Colombia has been utilizing chocolate for hundreds of years. Chocolate is constituted of cacao timber, that are present in areas of Colombia and the Amazon basin. Colombia isn’t alone both; cacao has been used all throughout Latin America way back to the Aztecs and Mayans.
25. Calentado
Calentado is a staple in Colombian gastronomy and is a dish rooted in recycling leftovers from the evening earlier than – its identify actually interprets as ‘heated’. The dish was born out of poverty to restrict waste, however now it is without doubt one of the most conventional meals in Colombia.
The commonest elements in a calentado dish are white rice, plantain, and steak. It’s then usually topped with a fried egg and arepas, maybe even served with a sizzling chocolate or espresso. By the character of the dish, calentado was primarily cooked at residence. In fact, now you’ll discover it on menus throughout the nation. At eating places, you are likely to additionally discover avocado and sausage served alongside the usual elements.
26. Fried Plantain
Fried plantain is yummy Colombian meals. To the untrained eye, you may be forgiven for mistaking them for bananas. They give the impression of being similar, besides plantains are a lot bigger, much less candy, and solely grow to be ripe as soon as they flip black. Of their yellow levels, plantains are excellent for frying, which is the place deep-fried plantain is available in.
The very best factor about fried plantain is its versatility. You could possibly have it savory with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Or you could possibly caramelize it and have it as a dessert. You could possibly pair it with an egg, or you could possibly pair it with ice cream.
Fried plantain tastes like a potato, and the crisp outer layer offers technique to a mushy, squishy inside. You gained’t have any points discovering fried plantain in Colombia (or Latin America), so attempt it your self.
28. Colombian espresso
In case you love espresso, you’re in for a deal with. This conventional Colombian drink is world-famous, and the quantity of espresso beans grown in Colombia is thrilling for any caffeine fanatic. For essentially the most half, Colombia grows Arabica beans, that are mild and candy to style, in contrast to the extreme Robusta. The truth that Arabica is a bit weaker than Robusta might be factor, although, since, in Colombian espresso tradition, it’s drunk most from late afternoon to early night. Not from the morning to early afternoons like within the US and Europe.
A good way to expertise Colombian is to go espresso tasting. And if you wish to go espresso tasting in Colombia, prioritize visiting Medellin or Manizales. These areas are famed for his or her espresso beans and have varieties named after them. You may e-book excursions round native espresso plantations or go to native cafes.
27. Maracuya
Maracuya may sound unfamiliar, however the likelihood is excessive that you just’ve seen one earlier than. Ardour fruit won’t be a dish as such. Nonetheless, tropical fruits are such a longtime a part of Colombian gastronomy that we needed to embrace them on this record. Ardour fruits are a deep purple on the skin, with a waxy, protecting outer pores and skin. Reduce open, they reveal a tangy, scrumptious mattress of yellow seeds. These seeds may be eaten straight from the fervour fruit or used as an ingredient for merchandise like ice cream or juice.
Ardour fruits develop throughout South America and are believed to have initially come from the Northern Argentina area earlier than spreading out in recognition throughout the continent. Not planning a go to to Colombia? No downside. You may attempt ardour fruit worldwide since it’s a vital export product.
Colombian meals is without doubt one of the greatest cuisines on the planet. There’s a lot to attempt, so get began as quickly as doable. Fortunately, if you’re visiting Colombia, there are many meals excursions to pattern conventional Colombian delicacies – main you round one of the best spots. You may try our greatest journey ideas right here as nicely.
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