4 unforgettable Colombian food dishes

The Colombian food It is much more than a set of delicious recipes: it is the expression of A country full of diversity, joy and tradition.

From the Andean mountains to the Caribbean coast, each region contributes its own within Colombian food to create One of the most diverse and delicious gastronomies in the world.

In today’s recipe are fresh ingredients and a preparation that passes from generation to generation, and where the warmth of its people is reflected.

This article about Colombian food It is an invitation to discover those flavors, to understand why A sancocho can cheer up the soul And why arepas are much more than a simple mass of corn.

About Colombian food

The magic of Colombian food It is in its diversity, the result of the mixture of indigenous, Spanish and African influences.

This cultural fusion is reflected in its ingredients and cooking techniques within the Great world of Colombian food. The geography of the country, with its different altitudes and climates, allows an incredibly varied natural pantry.

Ingredients like the pope (or potato, as is known in Spain), corn, cassava, banana And an infinity of exotic fruits are the basis of everything.

To this within Colombian food are added meats, fish and legumes that combine in stews, soups and fried that are pure tradition. Each dish tells a story about its place of origin.

The 4 Typical Meals of Colombia

While the list of typical dishes of Colombian food is almost infinite, there are certain dishes that are ambassadors of the Colombian food In the world. They are blunt preparations, full of flavor and perfect to share.

1. Paisa tray: more than a Colombian food dish, it is an experience

Native to the Antioquia region, The paisa tray is the most emblematic dish. It is a generous meal designed to replenish energies.

Includes Bean, white rice, ground meat, pork rind, sausage, fried egg, ripe fried banana, arepa and avocado. A combination that already sings the delicious of this dish.

2. Ajiaco Santafereño: The classic soup of Colombian food that embraces

This is Bogotá’s star dish within Colombian food. It is a thick soup prepared with Three types of potatoes, dismembered chicken, cob and a local herb called Downwhich gives it its unmistakable flavor.

It is served with caps and milk creamand it is the definition of the most comforting Colombian food. If you want to try it, in the end we leave you a Colombian ajiaco recipe to start.

3. Sancocho: The Sunday stew

The sancocho is the family soup par excellence in Colombia. Although it has many regional variants (of chicken, fish, three -phase with three meats), Its base is a substantial broth with large pieces of cassava, banana, potato and cob.

Sancocho’s recipe is a delicious dish of Colombian food that unites people, very similar in spirit to the Argentine locro.

4. Arepas: The versatility of Colombian food in the form of a circle

Arepas are every day’s bread in Colombia. Made with corn dough, you can eat alone, roasted, fried or stuffed with cheese, meat, egg … whatever!

Each region has its own version, demonstrating the incredible versatility of Colombian food and this classic that Colombia shares with its neighbors, as seen in this selection of arepas recipe.

Practical advice to highlight the taste in Colombian food

The key to many stews and preparations in the Colombian food It is the “Hagao.” It is a sofrito or Creole sauce made with tomato and long onion (onion or onion of green), slowly cooked in oil. It works as a basis for giving a homemade and traditional to almost everything.

So that this trip is not only theoretical, here is a recipe to prepare one of the most beloved dishes of the Colombian food: the Santa Confereño Ajiaco.

Notice: This is a simplified version so that everyone can enjoy it.

We hope this guide has opened your appetite and the desire to explore the incredible Colombian food. A gastronomy that is undoubtedly a reflection of the joy and diversity of its people.

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Santa Confereño Ajiaco recipe: Bogotá’s taste at home

Yield: 4 portions
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 500 g of Creole potatoes (small yellow)
• 500 g of sabanera potato (firm white)
• 500 g of Pastusa Papa (Harinosa, to thick)
• 2 corn cobs (corn), cut into pieces
• 1 bunch of guascas (if not achieved, can be omitted, although the taste changes)
• 1/2 cup of milk cream
• Capers to taste (to serve)
• 1 avocado (avocado), in slices to accompany
• Salt and pepper to taste

Step by step preparation

• Place chicken breasts in a large pot with plenty of water and salt. Cook until they are well cooked. Remove the breasts, let cool and break. Reserve the broth.
• Peel and cut the sabaneras and pastusa potatoes. Wash the Creole potatoes well and add them whole with skin.
• Add the sabaneras potatoes and cob pieces to the broth. Cook over medium heat for 10–15 minutes.
• Incorporate the Pastusa Popes and continue cooking for 15 minutes, until they begin to get rid of.
• Add Creole potatoes in the last 15–20 minutes of cooking. These will get rid of and give the color and thickness characteristic of the ajiaco.
• Add the guascas tied with a thread to easily remove them. Cook until the potatoes get rid of and the broth acquires the desired thick texture.
• Reincorporate the soup chicken a few minutes before serving, to warm up. Rectify salt and pepper.
• Serve the very hot ajiaco accompanied by milk cream, capers and avocado slices.

Frequent questions about Colombian food

Here we respond some of the most common doubts to become an expert in the field.

¿What is the most popular Colombian food?
Beyond the aforementioned dishes, popular food includes empanadashe Patacón with Hagaothe fritanga (a bit of different meats and fried) and, of course, the caféwhich is an institution in itself.

¿What is eaten at Christmas in Colombia?
The Colombian food Christmas It is a separate chapter. The protagonists are the Buñuelos (fried, fluffy and delicious cheese balls) and custard (A flan type dessert). They are also very popular dishes such as pork, ajiaco or tamales, depending on the region.

¿What is the typical dish in Colombia?
Although it is difficult to choose only one, the Paisa tray It is considered by many as the national dish for its abundance and representativeness of the Antioquia culture. However, the sancocho It is probably the dish that is in more regions of the country, with its own local adaptations.