WHAT TO EAT IN COLOMBIA

Colombia’s cuisine is heavily influenced by the diversity of its lush landscape as well as the diversity of its people. From Indigenous staple foods like corn and tropical fruits to African-Colombians’ hearty meals of beans and stews, eating in Colombia reflects its rich cultural heritage and complex history. Colombian food is delicious and well-seasoned, especially traditional Colombian cuisine! Each region in Colombia is home to a different specialty – all of them incredible…so what do Colombians eat? Whether you’re visiting a Colombian restaurant or planning a trip to Colombia, here is a guide on what to eat in Colombia.

 

Cartagena Cuisine

Ajiaco

Ajiaco is a chicken, corn, and potato stew native to Bogotá, and it is warm and hearty to complement the chilly mountainous city. It is made with 3 kinds of potatoes, one of which can only be found in this area. The rich flavor of this soup comes from "guasca", a Colombian herb, and from the giant capers which are cooked and sprinkled on top along with a generous dollop of cream. You will also find giant hunks of corn on the cob and chicken in your soup.

 

Ajiaco

Sancocho

You’ll see sancocho on menus all over Latin America and many countries have their own version of this style of soup. In Colombia, sancocho is a thick, broth-based soup that’s almost more like a stew, made with potatoes, yuca, plantain, a chunk of corn on the cob, and meat. The soup is usually topped with fresh herbs and served with avocado and rice.

 

Sancocho

 

Cazuela de Mariscos

Cazuela de Mariscos is a creamy seafood stew that is cooked with coconut milk and shrimp, clams, and white fish. Given that Colombia borders the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the country's seafood scene is incredible, and this stew is one of the best ways to sample Colombia's catch. 

 

Cazuela de Mariscos

Chuzos de Res or Chuzos de Pollo 

Oh, meat on a stick…. Skewers are found throughout the world, with each country owning its own variation, allowing us to eat and talk with our hands simultaneously. You will see street carts selling sizzling meat on a stick all over Colombia and they are seriously worth the mess if you need a bite on the go.

 

Chuzos de Res

 

Arepas

Arepas are basically cornmeal pancakes, and you will have them with pretty much every meal in Colombia! Sometimes your restaurant meal will include plain arepas on the side, which are tasteless and a disservice to superior arepas. Arepas are quite possibly the most popular food in Colombia. There are many different versions of arepas you can find. There are large ones, small ones, fat ones, skinny ones, stuffed with cheese and other toppings, used as a sort of flatbread with all kinds of toppings, or cut in half and used as sandwich bread. It’s important to eat arepas when they are just made and still warm.

 

Colombian Arepas

Patacones

Patacones are mashed and deep-fried green plantains and are crunchy and delicious. Plantains are a staple in many Colombian dishes and are eaten both as bananas – sweet and soft, made from ripened plantains – and patacones, the savory, crunchy version made from underripe plantains. Patacones often come served as a standard side with most meals and can be eaten just with a sprinkling of salt or topped with a variety of meats or cheese. Patacones make a great appetizer or snack at a bar. They often come with a couple of sauces to spice up the snack.

 

Patacones

Bandeja Paisa

This tasty variety platter is known for its generous serving of red beans, ground meat, chorizos, fried pork belly, eggs, plantains, arepa, rice, and avocado. Translating to “Countryman’s Platter,” the dish is basically designed to fill up a hungry Colombian farmer and you won’t go hungry after eating one! Due to the sheer amount of different foods it contains, Bandeja Paisa is traditionally served on a large platter. It’s also one of the country’s most popular dishes; it almost became the country’s national dish, but sancocho won out in the end! Bandeja Paisa is also representative of the many cultural influences in Colombia.

 

Bandeja Paisa

Hot Chocolate and Cheese

 

This may sound strange, but it’s actually pretty good. This drinky dessert is how Colombians drink their hot chocolate! The cheese that’s used is easy to melt and low in salt so it doesn’t overwhelm or even really change the sweetness of the chocolate. The only difference is that you plop a couple of big chunks of cheese into the bottom of the mug while it’s still hot and a few minutes later you fish out the now-melted cheese and eat it while you’re sipping the chocolate.

 

Hot Chocolate and Cheese

Buñuelos

 

These little bread balls are the most popular street foods in Colombia. When you find a bakery that’s selling them, you’ll see that they almost can’t keep up with the demand. They are basically little balls of dough made from corn flour, cassava starch, cheese, and eggs. They are then deep-fried and served hot. You can also find them stuffed with various jams, of which guava jam is the most popular. Buñuelos are often eaten as a quick breakfast or an afternoon snack in Colombia. 

 

Buñuelos

So there was a brief outline of what to eat in Colombia when you visit this incredible destination!