Colombian Food: 30 Essential Dishes to Eat

colombian food: essential dishes to eat

colombia was the first country i visited in south america. and yet i didn't write much colombian food while i was there

table of contents

is colombian food

colombian food: dishes to try

street food in colombia

is colombian food

seriously they are so friendly it's scary. after five minutes of meeting someone i would get invited back to a family birthday party

also read: delicious drinks in colombia

otherwise they'll get stuck eating a lot of fried snacks and not really understanding how diverse and delicious colombian cuisine be

i have such fond memories of the complex soups

it's a bit like cuban food and there are also some similarities to jamaican food

every culture has some delicious fried dishes. i even included foods in colombia that are fried

the biggest influences on colombian food is the biodiversity of the country

colombia is a huge country

in terms of the cultural influences that have an impact on cooking styles and preparation

colombian food: dishes to try

this is a platter dish that has a range of different colombian foods. while in the paisa region the meals are quite similar

the meats in a platter include chorizo

these are accompanied by rice

because of the size of the meal

regional varieties of the bandeja paisa also include steak

it is in this grazing region that this barbecue dish originates

over an open fire

the colombian dish is often

generally

tamales are a ubiquitous dish found across latin america. but this particular variety originates from the tolima area of the country

in most areas the dough is made purely from corn meal

another important difference is that these tamales are generally served in a round shape

the fritanga is a colombian meal that is made up of a variety of different meats that have been fried

fried intestines and also included

if you could only eat just one soup in colombia

the meat is accompanied

the broth is and is close to being a stew

while many regions accompany the soup

oh how i love a guinea pig. it's most commonly associated

guinea pigs have been domesticated in the andes

the guinea pig itself is roasted until it is tender

the roasted guinea pig is usually served

this colombian food originates in the tolima region of colombia

the way to roast the pig is in an outdoor brick oven

the pork is generally served

this is a soup that is made using potatoes

the key flavour of the soup that differentiates it from other dishes is the use of guascas

this has an intense artichoke-like flavour

love soup

encebollado: ecuadorian fish soup

the soup is

the broth is then seasoned

stew that is found across the country

honduran food you'll want to eat

this is a tripe stew that be made

the broth should be seasoned

like many of the country's dishes

the great features of the coast of colombia is that there is a huge variety of seafood available

this delicious seafood casserole-like stew is found in the coastal areas of colombia

the broth

the finished dish is then seasoned

while mexico has nacho chips

the crops that is raised in colombia is the plantain

the plantain is and flattened

they also be found in street food dishes

frankly i think nacho and potato chips have nothing on patacones

wheat grain after it had been milled into flour

while you may occasionally find cuchuco made as a vegetarian soup

the broth is

found across the country

in homes this is often a pressure cooker dish that is at a lower temperature throughout the day

the chicken is accompanied in the stew

the stew is flavoured

because this sauce is quite

this dish will often be found in colombian homes on christmas eve

while many dishes have variations that differ across a country

also known as pork milanese in some parts

the cutlet is usually marinaded in lime juice

the meal is usually completed

although this is particularly common in the west of the country

rice is a staple of colombian cuisine

but back to the food

arr atollado is rice supplemented by chicken

there are also plenty of vegetables that are included as well. this often includes and peppers

this stew is one that takes many of its influences from cooking

puchero santafereño is another meal that is most commonly found in the andean highlands

as

the meat and vegetables are usually served

these fritters originate from the caribbean coast of colombia

also known as yuca in many areas

on the caribbean coast

country will have its own delicacies that sound a little unusual to visitors

these are essentially leaf-cutter ants

sure it may not be the most popular colombian food. but hey

occasionally eaten as a snack

the bread is usually eaten

street food in colombia

this meal is particularly popular in bogota

the base of the dish is corn stacked

the stalls selling buñuelos in colombia are very distinctive. they will usually have the largest pan of oil bubbling away

these of dough are certainly a delicious and warming snack. they are a very simple snack

dough is then tossed into the oil

they are sometimes served

i quickly realized that my beloved corn tortillas do not exist in south america. but i was introduced to arepas and i forgot the tortillas

maybe one of the most famous colombian food

it is worked into a dough patty

arepas are found in stalls and stands across the country

canned tomatoes

picada usually means street meat. it may include beef

this will often be accompanied by fried potatoes and cassava

fries to complete a satisfying meal

i cannot count how many salchipapas i've eaten in my life in a very short period of time

a selection of other sauces

my personal favourite is just ketchup and mayonnaise

empanadas are found in many parts of south america. they are the easiest street food to find in colombia

make i at home: an easy ecuadorian empanada recipe

you will also find that there are chicken

the dough pocket is then deep fried just before eating. it is often served

it is a blend of condensed milk

this creamy dessert may not appear to be much when you first see it. however

froth from the top of a pan of milk that is repeatedly brought to a boil

this cream is then

the result has a creamy and slightly gloopy texture

arequipe is also called dulce de leche in many parts of the country

also read: food in argentina

it is a paste made

three of arequipe is added into the cut fruit

this little pastry delight is one that is often at home. but is also available from the majority of bakeries across the country

what colombian foods did i miss that should be added to this list? let me know and i'll add it to the bucket list above

april 1

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i had been struggling

to be completely honest

influences on colombian cuisine

colombian desserts

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colombia is one of my biggest recommendations in south america because colombians are amazing people

as a solo traveler i was taken aback by this in the beginning

so it hurts me to give this advice that i fear may offend my colombian friends

the reason i wanted to write this post is because travellers need a primer into what to eat in colombia

but try to use this post as a bucket list so you get a better understanding of how much there is to offer

influences on colombian cuisine

it's incredibly diverse and so the colombian dishes be quite diverse

also read: colombian slang survival guide

many dishes are in

like many countries in latin america

bandeja paisa

originating in the north west and west

you cannot leave colombia without trying bandeja paisa

ternera llanera

the flatlands of los llanos stretch across colombia and into neighbouring venezuela

tamales tolimenses

nicaragua's take on tamales

fritanga

fritanga is generally served alongside arepas

it is particularly common in bogota and the surrounding area of central colombia

sancocho

the most common variety is made

cuy asado

when visitors are present. they don't look like the pets we know at home

also read: how to eat cuy

lechona

another of the dishes that is often associated

ajiaco

caldo de costilla

the andean region of colombia is one that naturally has a much colder climate

if you are looking

mondongo

a restorative in colombia

cazuela de mariscos

however

patacones

as a side

patacones be served

cuchuco

sudado de pollo

christmas traditions in ecuador

chuleta valluna

arr atollado

i visited cali

cali is also the hometown of drug baron pablo escobar

in fact

arr atollado is usually served

puchero santafereño

are museums in bogota worth visiting

this is then supplemented

interestingly

carimañola

however

hormigas colonna

i love chapulines in mexico

despite not being a naturally appetizing option

pandebono

originating from the valle del cauca region of colombia on the west coast

there are a variety of different recipes available

brazilian cuisine dishes you don't want to miss

it is combined

legend says that the name

he would then roam the streets yelling ‘pane del buono'

mazorca

buñuelos

brought over by the

often made

also read: christmas desserts around the world

although often associated

arepas

when i arrived in south america i wondered

in the north-western paisa region

picada

in many countries

salchipapas

the typical night-time street foods that is often eaten after 3 drinks

i've seen versions

also read: porky perfect foods in ecuador

empanadas

colombian desserts

torta de tres leches

when it comes to the most popular desserts across south america

it is also one of the most popular peruvian desserts

postre de natas

postre de natas was originally in the andean region

brevas con arequipe

these then be stored

milhojas

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