Colombian Food: Typical Dishes

Colombia has numerous things to captivate. On the one hand, an ample offer of traditional regional recipes; on the other, new trends that make the best of local products to turn Colombian flavors into innovative dishes.

They say that one of the strategies to win over someone's affection is through the charm of a good meal. “A way to a man's heart is through his stomach.” as some would have it. A corresponding consequence could be the colloquial expression, “Full belly, happy heart.”

Colombian national cuisine is as diverse as its climate, landscapes, and cultural expressions. Aside from the fertility of a land that grows practically everything, there is the unlimited imagination of expert cooks who add to the sentiment they infuse into their preparations new ways of seasoning and creating recipes.

Traditional Colombian Dishes

Many of the most famous dishes, like the bandeja paisa and the ajiaco bogotano, are usually enjoyed in their places of origin, with the precise ingredients and quantities and in the appropriate atmosphere: decor, tableware, and the final appearance of the dish.

Bandeja paisa

Thus, for example, the bandeja paisa of the department of Antioquia and nearby regions has as its main ingredient the beans harvested in the region, where climatic characteristics make Colombia the largest producer of beans in the Andean region, as well the country with the highest consumption of beans in the daily diet.

Ajiaco santafereño

On its part, the ajiaco santafereño, prepared in Colombia’s central region, is a soup based on several kinds of potatoes from the high plains of the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá, an herb by the name of “guasca”, and local corn and chicken.

However, culinary arts have traveled over time and have positioned themselves at every corner, especially in large capital cities, where by virtue of generous food menus, it is possible to travel across the nation. Thus, the secrets of fine dining were transported by the labor of cooks who laid the recipes of their regions on the tablecloths of typical country restaurants or large urban centers, making it impossible to deprive anyone of ancestral delicacies.

Many visitors from around the world arrive and bow to the wealth of tastes and, even if they are served a generous portion, will want seconds. Those who are not coming for the first time will know exactly what to order. Also, thanks to many Colombians living abroad, our cuisine is expanding by way of eateries of various kinds that become true embassies of the culture and traditions of Colombia.