Latin America is known for its scrumptious meals, and Colombia doesn’t disappoint. The truth is, sampling Colombian meals is among the high causes to go to Colombia. Like its nation, Colombian delicacies is various and thrilling.
Chances are you’ll 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 break up into six areas, every of which has its personal regional specialties as effectively. 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 the very best Colombian meals? Whether or not you need to attempt some Colombian delicacies at house or are visiting Colombia and are excited to attempt native dishes, this information will introduce you to the very best. We’ll cowl all the things, 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 simple to make at house and scrumptious to eat in Colombia. If you would like a fast, simple snack, empanadas are among the finest Colombian dishes.
If you wish to attempt an empanada earlier than you journey to Colombia, you can observe this recipe to make your individual at house.
2. Pandebono
The legend behind pandebono is that an Italian baker residing 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 some of the standard Colombian meals.
So, what’s it precisely? The bread can be nicknamed Colombian cheese bread, which ought to offer you an excellent 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 recent as attainable.
To get within the temper on your Colombian travels, make your individual Pandebono at house with this recipe.
3. Bandeja Paisa
Bandeja paisa might be probably 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, pink beans, and an avocado. The meats embrace minced beef and chorizo sausage to chicharron. You’ll normally 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 well-liked lunch alternative and is one to attempt in case you go to Colombia. Make your recipe at house by following this recipe.
4. Frijoles Rojos
Frijoles Rojos is a particular Colombian dish that makes use of cargamento beans, additionally referred to as pink beans. This Colombian meals is especially wholesome, and pink beans are an important supply of iron, potassium, low-fat protein, and fiber. It’s a stew-like concoction, and the pink beans are blended with tomatoes, onion, and garlic. It’s then normally served on high of a portion of rice.
Frijoles rojos was initially a laborer’s meal. It’s budget-friendly and full of power 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 one among Colombia’s greatest desserts and comes from the Quindio area, close to the Andes. It may not look (or sound) appetizing, however it’s simply one of many tastiest meals you’ll be able to 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 on your tastebuds. Often, you may additionally discover the lime juice changed by orange juice and cinnamon – so maintain your eye out for any distinctive recipes.
Colombia has a number 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 house 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 a wonderful 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 enormously; rind or stomach cuts can be utilized, not like the Colombian model. You’ll discover that the majority international locations in Latin America have their very own model of chicharron. Get able to attempt as many alternative variations as attainable. Colombia has since taken a agency spin on the dish, although, and chicharron has effectively and really entered Colombian delicacies.
7. Coconut rice
Neglect white rice; coconut rice is the tastiest. As its identify could counsel, coconut rice is cooked with coconuts, giving it a yummy taste and getting it a spot on this listing as a meal in its personal proper. There are two foremost methods coconut rice is ready: cooking it in coconut milk or mixing it with shredded coconut. Cooking it in coconut milk is the very 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 one among Colombia’s commonest tropical fruits, it’s no thriller why they’re so prevalent in Colombian delicacies. In the event 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 complete, with pores and skin and head intact. It may be a little bit daunting in case 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 normally mojarra or pink snapper. The fish is sliced after which flavored with lime and seasoning, usually sitting within the juice for some time to actually absorb the flavour. It’s served with rice, plantain, and salad – the proper lunch dish.
9. Arepa de Huevo
Arepa de huevo is a variation of normal arepas, that are fried corn truffles. Arepas are a massively standard 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 some of the standard dishes – particularly for breakfast. They’re served in stacks (like pancakes) as a standalone dish. Simply decide your sauce to match, salsa and bitter cream are nice selections. 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 honest to say that it’s most likely the commonest Colombian soup and is extensively eaten throughout the nation. The hen soup can be full of plantain, corn, potatoes, and yuca. The truth is, 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 rather more distinctive, and infrequently Colombian recipes use a whole hen.
Sopa de pollo is a wonderful Colombian meals to attempt when visiting or to recreate at house. It’s best cooked slow-cooked and served piping sizzling and is a type 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 should not have any drawback discovering some to attempt in case you go to Colombia. And in case you like black pudding, you might be 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 infrequently inexperienced peas as effectively. The sausages are then normally boiled to cook dinner.
12. Cazuela de Mariscos
Prepared for a Colombian seafood dish? Cazuela de mariscos is among 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 all the things from prawns to mussels and lobster. The meats are cooked in coconut milk with a combination of greens. You would possibly even have white wine and cheese added to the combo in case you are fortunate.
Cazuela de mariscos is an iconic dish when visiting Colombia’s shoreline. What is healthier than a recent seafood dish? More often than not, the elements have been simply caught out of the Caribbean Sea. That is undoubtedly one on your listing once you go to Colombia. Or attempt making it at house with this yummy recipe.
13. Colombian Bunuelos
Bunuelos are deep-fried balls full of recent cheese – an ideal afternoon snack or breakfast chunk. Unusually sufficient, they’re usually served alongside sizzling chocolate and low, so you’ll be able to usually discover bunuelos at cafes in Colombia.
Bunuelos are some of the standard 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 have 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 standard at Christmas time. We discovered this easy to observe recipe on YouTube
14. Obleas
Obleas is not only a typical Colombian dish; it’s loved throughout Spain and Latin America. Obleas appears 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 infrequently a combination of fruit, whipped cream, and jam. The Colombian model is nearly equivalent however provides one particular ingredient – Colombian caramel.
In the event you’ve bought a candy tooth, obleas are among the finest typical Colombian desserts to attempt. You’ll discover them all over the 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 giant teams of individuals once you need to splash out on a elaborate meal. You’ll usually discover particular person servings of lechona at eating places round Colombia, although, so maintain your eyes peeled.
16. Cholado
Let’s set Colombian meals apart for a second. Cholado is among the greatest drinks in Colombia, so let’s introduce you. The drink is a refreshing combination of shaved ice, recent fruit, and sweetened condensed milk. Relying on the place you get one, you may additionally 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 bins creatively and deliciously. In the event you love recent fruit and candy treats, it’s a nice drink to attempt when visiting Colombia, but easy sufficient to recreate at house.
17. Carimanola
Carimanolas are simple to identify. The tiny fritters are formed into attribute torpedo shapes, normally served in bulk as bitesize appetizers. They’re a standard Colombian meals, though you’ll additionally discover carimanolas in different Southern American international locations like Panama.
Inside, carimanolas are full of floor beef or shredded hen, cheese, and seasoning. The fritters are then deep-fried to create a type of meat pie. They’re mild and crispy on the skin but delicate on the within. Most of the time, carimanolas include aji sauce. This vivid inexperienced sauce primarily consists of cilantro and is good and spicy – the proper facet. Wish to attempt them earlier than your travels? Head over to observe this recipe
18. Colombian Sopa de Mondongo
Whereas mondongo usually has a stew-like consistency, it’s truly 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 – normally barbecued on the road. So, what meals will you discover in fritanga? Often, 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 other people 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 well-liked 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 just a few elements, largely panela and guava pulp, so they’re simple to make if you wish to recreate the dish at house.
You’ll usually discover bocadillos served at cafes, normally alongside a slice of salty white cheese. They arrive lower into little rectangles or squares and are the proper bitesize treats.
21. Aborrajados
Aborrajados are one dish that you simply don’t discover as simply. It originated within the Valley de Cauca and is a regional specialty. The inventive (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’ll be able to 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 means of the combination for extra taste.
If you would like a filling dish, arroz con pollo is an excellent alternative. Plus, it’s simple to seek 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 beneath 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 on your listing. The dish is made with a mixture of shredded coconut, sugar, milk, and coconut water. Relying on the place you attempt it, you may additionally discover additional elements like cinnamon – most individuals have their very own twist on the basic recipe.
Cocadas blancas are normally offered on the road and alongside Colombia’s seashores. Nonetheless, you will discover them on dessert menus in eating places too. They’re scrumptious meals, sticky and candy. You might be in for a deal with making an attempt one.
24. Colombian Scorching 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 vitally 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 often made in water, not milk, with cinnamon or cloves usually added to counteract any bitterness. It could sound unusual, however Colombians are additionally well-known for dipping cheese of their sizzling chocolate – which you’ll or could not need to attempt.
One other factor that’s vital to know is that Colombia has been utilizing chocolate for hundreds of years. Chocolate is created from 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 among 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, even perhaps served with a sizzling chocolate or espresso. By the character of the dish, calentado was primarily cooked at house. In fact, now you’ll discover it on menus throughout the nation. At eating places, you are inclined 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 might be forgiven for mistaking them for bananas. They give the impression of being equivalent, 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.
One of the best factor about fried plantain is its versatility. You can have it savory with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Or you can caramelize it and have it as a dessert. You can pair it with an egg, or you can pair it with ice cream.
Fried plantain tastes like a potato, and the crisp outer layer offers approach to a delicate, 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 the event you love espresso, you might be 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 probably the most half, Colombia grows Arabica beans, that are mild and candy to style, not like the extreme Robusta. The truth that Arabica is a bit weaker than Robusta might be an excellent 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 would possibly sound unfamiliar, however the chances are high excessive that you simply’ve seen one earlier than. Ardour fruit may not 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 listing. Ardour fruits are a deep purple on the skin, with a waxy, protecting outer pores and skin. Lower open, they reveal a tangy, scrumptious mattress of yellow seeds. These seeds might be eaten straight from the eagerness 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 reputation throughout the continent. Not planning a go to to Colombia? No drawback. You may attempt ardour fruit worldwide since it’s a vital export product.
Colombian meals is among the greatest cuisines on the earth. There may be a lot to attempt, so get began as quickly as attainable. Fortunately, in case you are visiting Colombia, there are many meals excursions to pattern conventional Colombian delicacies – main you round the very best spots. You may take a look at our greatest journey ideas right here as effectively.
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