All 97 Recipes

Bandeja Paisa

Paisa Platter

The crown jewel of Antioquian cuisine — a monumental platter of red beans, white rice, chicharrón, chorizo, morcilla, fried egg, avocado, arepa, and hogao. A meal that tells the story of Paisa resilience and abundance.

2 hr 45 minAdvanced

Steaming bowl of Colombian Ajiaco Santafereño with three potato varieties, chicken, corn, and cream

Featured

Ajiaco Santafereño

Bogotá Chicken & Potato Soup

The soul of Bogotá in a bowl — a thick, aromatic soup made with three varieties of Colombian potato, shredded chicken, corn, and the irreplaceable guascas herb. Served with cream and capers.

2 hrIntermediate

Large pot of Colombian Sancocho de Gallina with yuca, plantain, and corn

Sancocho de Gallina

Hen Sancocho

Colombia's most beloved Sunday ritual — a slow-cooked hen soup with yuca, plantain, corn, and potatoes. Every family has their version, but the soul is always the same.

2 hr 20 min8–10 servings

Colombian Sancocho Trifásico with three meats, yuca, and plantain

Sancocho Trifásico

Three-Meat Sancocho

The festive sancocho — made with three meats (chicken, beef, and pork ribs) for special occasions. Rich, complex, and deeply satisfying.

3 hr10–12 servings

Colombian Sancocho de Pescado with fresh fish, yuca, and plantain

Sancocho de Pescado

Fish Sancocho

A lighter, coastal sancocho made with fresh river or sea fish, yuca, plantain, and the aromatic sofrito of the Caribbean coast.

1 hr 5 min6–8 servings

Colombian Mondongo soup with tripe, vegetables, and herbs

Mondongo Colombiano

Colombian Tripe Soup

A deeply traditional tripe soup slow-cooked with vegetables, herbs, and spices until the mondongo becomes silky and the broth rich and golden.

4 hr8–10 servings

Colombian Changua breakfast soup with poached egg, bread, and cilantro

Changua

Milk & Egg Breakfast Soup

Bogotá's iconic breakfast soup — a delicate broth of milk and water with poached eggs, stale bread, and fresh cilantro. Simple, warming, and deeply nostalgic.

20 min2 servings

Colombian Caldo de Costilla beef rib broth with potato and cilantro

Caldo de Costilla

Beef Rib Broth

The legendary Colombian hangover cure and early-morning breakfast — a clear, golden beef rib broth with potato and cilantro, served with arepa.

1 hr 10 min4 servings

Colombian Mute Santandereano corn and offal soup

Mute Santandereano

Santander Corn & Offal Soup

A robust, ancient Santanderean soup made with dried corn, offal, chickpeas, and a complex spice blend. One of Colombia's oldest and most distinctive regional dishes.

4 hr8–10 servings

Colombian Cazuela de Mariscos with shrimp, crab, and coconut broth

Cazuela de Mariscos

Seafood Cazuela

Cartagena's luxurious seafood stew — a rich coconut milk broth loaded with shrimp, lobster, crab, and fish, seasoned with the aromatics of the Caribbean coast.

1 hr4–6 servings

Colombian Mote de Queso yam and cheese soup

Mote de Queso

Yam & Cheese Soup

A creamy, comforting Caribbean coast soup made with ñame (yam) and queso costeño, thickened naturally by the starchy yam.

1 hr6 servings

Colombian Pusandao de Bagre Pacific catfish stew

Pacific Coast

Pusandao de Bagre

Pacific Catfish Stew

A signature Pacific coast stew made with bagre (catfish), plantain, and the aromatic herbs of the Chocó region, often cooked in coconut milk.

1 hr 5 min4–6 servings

Colombian Viudo de Pescado river fish stew

Viudo de Pescado

Widower's Fish Stew

A traditional Tolima river fish stew cooked with yuca, plantain, and corn. The name 'widower' refers to the fish being 'alone' without its usual accompaniments.

1 hr 20 min4–6 servings

Colombian Sudado de Pollo chicken stew with potatoes and cilantro

Sudado de Pollo

Chicken Sudado

A beloved weekday staple — chicken pieces slow-cooked in a tomato and onion sofrito with potatoes and cilantro until tender and deeply flavorful.

1 hr4–6 servings

Colombian Sudado de Carne beef stew with potatoes

Sudado de Carne

Beef Sudado

The beef version of Colombia's beloved sudado technique — beef chunks slow-cooked in hogao with potatoes until fork-tender.

1 hr 15 min4–6 servings

Colombian Sobrebarriga en Salsa Criolla sliced flank steak

Sobrebarriga en Salsa Criolla

Flank Steak in Criolla Sauce

A Bogotá classic — slow-braised flank steak in a rich criolla sauce of tomatoes, onions, and herbs, served sliced over rice.

2 hr 20 min4–6 servings

Colombian Posta Negra Cartagenera dark braised beef roast

Posta Negra Cartagenera

Cartagena Black Pot Roast

Cartagena's most celebrated meat dish — a whole beef round marinated overnight and slow-braised in a dark, sweet-savory sauce of panela, cola, and spices.

27 hr8–10 servings

Colombian Lomo al Trapo beef tenderloin on coals

Lomo al Trapo

Cloth-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin

A spectacular Colombian grilling technique — beef tenderloin packed in salt and wrapped in a wet cloth, then placed directly on hot coals.

1 hr4–6 servings

Colombian Carne Oreada sun-dried beef from Santander

Carne Oreada

Sun-Dried Beef

Santander's traditional sun-dried and seasoned beef — marinated in spices and dried in the open air before grilling or frying.

24 hr 30 min4 servings

Colombian Mamona whole calf roasting on a cross over open fire

Llanos / Orinoquía

Mamona / Ternera a la Llanera

Llanero Roasted Veal

The legendary feast of the Colombian Llanos — a whole young calf slow-roasted on a cross over an open fire for 6–8 hours. The ultimate Colombian asado.

8 hr20–30 servings

Colombian Lechona Tolimense whole roast pig with crispy skin

Lechona Tolimense

Tolima Stuffed Roast Pig

Tolima's most iconic dish — a whole pig stuffed with seasoned rice, peas, and spices, then slow-roasted for 8 hours until the skin is crackling-crisp.

32 hr30–50 servings

Colombian Tamal Tolimense wrapped in banana leaves

Tamal Tolimense

Tolima Tamal

The king of Colombian tamales — a large, generous package of masa, chicken, pork, vegetables, and spices wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.

5 hr12 servings

Tamal Santafereño

Bogotá Tamal

The Bogotá version of the Colombian tamal — slightly smaller than the Tolimense, with a distinctive masa and filling combination.

3 hr 30 min10 servings

Tamal Valluno

Valle del Cauca Tamal

The Valle del Cauca tamal — known for its distinctive masa made with hogao and its generous filling of pork and vegetables.

3 hr 30 min10 servings

Colombian Tamal Antioqueño from Antioquia

Tamal Antioqueño

Antioquian Tamal

The Antioquian tamal — a robust, hearty version with a thick masa and generous pork filling, wrapped in banana leaves.

3 hr 30 min10 servings

Colombian Empanadas golden fried corn masa pockets

Empanadas Colombianas

Colombian Empanadas

Colombia's most beloved street food — crispy fried corn masa pockets filled with seasoned beef and potato, served with ají.

1 hr 5 min12 servings

Colombian Arepa Paisa white corn arepa on a griddle

Arepa Paisa

Paisa White Corn Arepa

The simplest and most iconic Colombian arepa — a thin, white corn disc griddled until lightly charred, served with butter and salt.

25 min6 servings

Arepa de Huevo

Egg-Stuffed Arepa

The Caribbean coast's most beloved street food — a corn arepa fried once, opened, filled with a raw egg, then fried again until the egg is cooked inside.

40 min6 servings

Colombian Arepa de Choclo sweet corn arepa with cheese

Arepa de Choclo

Sweet Corn Arepa

A sweet, thick corn arepa made from fresh choclo (sweet corn), griddled and served with butter and queso blanco. A Colombian breakfast favorite.

30 min6 servings

Colombian Arepa Boyacense thick cheese-filled arepa from Boyacá

Arepa Boyacense

Boyacá Cheese Arepa

The thick, cheese-filled arepa of Boyacá — made with a combination of corn and wheat flour, stuffed with queso campesino.

35 min6 servings

Colombian Arepa Santandereana with chicharrón in the masa

Arepa Santandereana

Santander Chicharrón Arepa

The distinctive Santander arepa — made with corn masa mixed with chicharrón (fried pork skin), giving it a unique savory, fatty richness.

40 min6 servings

Colombian Arepa Rellena de Queso cheese-stuffed arepa

Arepa Rellena de Queso

Cheese-Stuffed Arepa

A simple, universally loved Colombian arepa stuffed with melted cheese — the ultimate comfort snack.

Arepa de Queso

Cheese Arepa

The Valle del Cauca cheese arepa — made with queso blanco mixed directly into the masa for a rich, savory corn cake.

25 min4 servings

Colombian Arepa con Hogao with tomato and onion sofrito

Arepa con Hogao

Arepa with Hogao Sauce

The most fundamental Colombian combination — a plain corn arepa topped with hogao (tomato and onion sofrito). Simple, perfect, essential.

Colombian Patacones con Hogao twice-fried green plantains

Patacones con Hogao

Twice-Fried Plantains with Hogao

Colombia's most popular side dish — green plantains smashed and double-fried until crispy, served with hogao and queso blanco.

Colombian Aborrajados Vallunos battered plantain with cheese

Aborrajados Vallunos

Valle Battered Plantain & Cheese

A Valle del Cauca specialty — ripe plantain slices stuffed with queso blanco, dipped in egg batter, and fried golden.

Colombian Marranitas Vallunas plantain balls with chicharrón

Marranitas Vallunas

Valle Chicharrón-Stuffed Plantain Balls

A Cali street food classic — mashed ripe plantain balls stuffed with chicharrón and fried until crispy outside.

40 min8 servings

Colombian Carimañolas yuca fritters stuffed with beef

Carimañolas

Yuca & Meat Fritters

A Caribbean coast breakfast staple — torpedo-shaped yuca fritters stuffed with seasoned ground beef or cheese.

50 min8 servings

Colombian Pandebono cheese bread rings fresh from the oven

Pandebono

Colombian Cheese Bread

Colombia's most beloved cheese bread — a soft, chewy ring made with yuca starch, queso blanco, and egg. Eaten warm, always.

35 min12 servings

Colombian Almojábana cheese rolls fresh from the oven

Almojábana

Colombian Cheese Roll

A soft, slightly sweet cheese roll made with cuajada (fresh curd cheese) and corn flour — the classic companion to chocolate santafereño.

35 min10 servings

Colombian Buñuelos golden fried cheese fritters

Buñuelos Colombianos

Colombian Cheese Fritters

Light, airy fried cheese balls — a Colombian Christmas tradition and year-round bakery staple made with yuca starch and queso blanco.

35 min12 servings

Pandequeso Colombiano

Colombian Cheese Bread Ball

A soft, round cheese bread ball from Antioquia — similar to pandebono but with a slightly different texture and flavor.

35 min10 servings

Colombian Achiras del Huila crispy cheese crackers

Achiras del Huila

Huila Achira Crackers

Huila's iconic crispy cheese crackers made from achira starch — a pre-Columbian ingredient unique to the Huila region.

45 min20 servings

Colombian Enyucado yuca and coconut cake

Enyucado

Yuca & Coconut Cake

A dense, sweet Caribbean coast cake made with grated yuca, coconut, anise, and cheese — a unique fusion of indigenous and African flavors.

1 hr 5 min8 servings

Colombian Arroz con Pollo golden chicken and rice

Arroz con Pollo Colombiano

Colombian Chicken Rice

Colombia's beloved one-pot chicken and rice — seasoned with achiote, vegetables, and herbs for a colorful, flavorful family meal.

1 hr 5 min6 servings

Colombian Arroz Atollado Valluno wet rice with pork

Arroz Atollado Valluno

Valle Wet Rice with Pork

Cali's beloved 'drowned rice' — a wet, soupy rice dish cooked with pork ribs, chorizo, and vegetables in a rich achiote broth.

1 hr 30 min6 servings

Arroz con Coco

Coconut Rice

The iconic Caribbean coast coconut rice — white rice cooked in fresh coconut milk until fragrant and slightly sweet.

40 min6 servings

Colombian Arroz con Coco y Camarones coconut rice with shrimp

Arroz con Coco y Camarones

Coconut Rice with Shrimp

A luxurious Caribbean coast rice dish — coconut rice loaded with fresh shrimp and seasoned with coastal aromatics.

55 min4 servings

Colombian Arroz de Lisa mullet fish rice

Arroz de Lisa

Mullet Rice

A traditional Caribbean coast rice dish made with lisa (mullet fish), achiote, and coastal aromatics.

1 hr4 servings

Colombian Arroz con Chipi Chipi clam rice

Arroz con Chipi Chipi

Clam Rice

A Caribbean coast specialty — rice cooked with chipi chipi (small clams) in a fragrant broth of coconut milk and coastal herbs.

55 min4 servings

Colombian Frijoles Antioqueños red beans with pork

Frijoles Antioqueños

Antioquian Red Beans

The soul of Antioquian cooking — cargamanto beans slow-cooked with pork, hogao, and spices until thick and deeply flavorful.

2 hr 20 min8 servings

Colombian Frijoles con Garra beans with pig's feet

Frijoles con Garra

Beans with Pig's Feet

A rich, gelatinous bean stew made with pig's feet (garra) that add extraordinary body and depth to the cargamanto beans.

3 hr 20 min8 servings

Lentejas Colombianas

Colombian Lentils

A hearty Colombian lentil stew seasoned with hogao, cumin, and cilantro — a weekday staple across the country.

55 min6 servings

Garbanzos Colombianos

Colombian Chickpeas

Colombian-style chickpeas seasoned with hogao, achiote, and cumin — a simple, satisfying legume dish.

1 hr 10 min6 servings

Colombian Papas Chorreadas potatoes in hogao sauce

Papas Chorreadas

Potatoes in Hogao Sauce

A Bogotá classic — boiled potatoes smothered in a rich hogao sauce with cream and cheese. Simple, comforting, essential.

40 min4 servings

Colombian Papas Criollas con Ají golden potatoes with sauce

Papas Criollas con Ají

Criolla Potatoes with Ají

The most Colombian of side dishes — tiny golden papa criolla potatoes boiled and served with fresh ají sauce.

25 min4 servings

Colombian Yuca Frita golden fried yuca sticks

Yuca Frita

Fried Yuca

Golden, crispy fried yuca sticks — Colombia's answer to french fries, with a creamier interior and more complex flavor.

Colombian Yuca Sudada con Hogao braised yuca

Yuca Sudada con Hogao

Braised Yuca with Hogao

Yuca slow-cooked in hogao until tender and infused with the flavors of tomato, onion, and herbs.

40 min4 servings

Colombian Plátanos Maduros con Queso y Bocadillo

Plátanos Maduros con Queso y Bocadillo

Ripe Plantains with Cheese and Guava Paste

A beloved Colombian combination — fried ripe plantains served with queso blanco and bocadillo (guava paste) for a sweet-salty-savory experience.

Colombian Tajadas de Maduro golden fried ripe plantain slices

Tajadas de Maduro

Fried Ripe Plantain Slices

Golden fried slices of ripe plantain — sweet, caramelized, and irresistible. The universal Colombian side dish.

Colombian Hogao tomato and onion sofrito sauce

Hogao Colombiano

Colombian Tomato & Onion Sofrito

The mother sauce of Colombian cooking — a slow-cooked sofrito of tomatoes and long green onions that forms the flavor base of countless dishes.

30 min8 servings

Colombian Ají fresh chili sauce in a small bowl

Ají Colombiano

Colombian Fresh Chili Sauce

Colombia's essential table sauce — a fresh, bright condiment of ají peppers, cilantro, onion, and lime. Not very spicy, but deeply flavorful.

10 min8 servings

Colombian Ají de Aguacate avocado chili sauce

Ají de Aguacate

Avocado Ají Sauce

A creamy Colombian avocado sauce with ají peppers and cilantro — richer and creamier than traditional ají.

10 min4 servings

Colombian Guacamole with avocado and cilantro

Guacamole Colombiano

Colombian Guacamole

The Colombian take on guacamole — simpler than the Mexican version, with avocado, lime, cilantro, and sometimes tomato.

10 min4 servings

Colombian Suero Costeño Caribbean sour cream

Suero Costeño

Caribbean Sour Cream

The Caribbean coast's tangy fermented cream — a naturally soured cream used as a condiment, topping, and ingredient across coastal cuisine.

24 hr8 servings

Colombian Chorizos Antioqueños grilled pork sausages

AdvancedStreet Food

Chorizos Antioqueños

Antioquian Pork Sausages

The iconic Antioquian pork sausage — seasoned with cumin, achiote, and herbs, grilled over charcoal and served with arepa and hogao.

1 hr 30 min8 servings

Morcilla Colombiana

Colombian Blood Sausage

Colombian blood sausage — made with pork blood, rice, herbs, and spices. A key component of Bandeja Paisa and Colombian asados.

1 hr 45 min8 servings

Colombian Chicharrón crispy pork crackling

Chicharrón Colombiano

Colombian Pork Crackling

Colombian chicharrón — pork belly fried until the skin is shatteringly crispy and the meat tender. A Paisa staple and street food icon.

1 hr 5 min4 servings

Picada Colombiana

Colombian Mixed Grill Platter

A festive sharing platter of mixed grilled and fried meats — chicharrón, chorizo, morcilla, chicken, and beef — with patacones and yuca.

1 hr 15 min4–6 servings

Colombian Fritanga Bogotana fried meat platter

Fritanga Bogotana

Bogotá Fried Meat Platter

Bogotá's version of the mixed meat platter — a generous spread of fried and grilled meats served with papas criollas and ají.

1 hr 15 min4–6 servings

Colombian Ceviche de Camarón shrimp ceviche

Ceviche de Camarón Colombiano

Colombian Shrimp Ceviche

Colombian shrimp ceviche — cooked shrimp in a tangy lime and tomato sauce with onion, cilantro, and ají. Different from Peruvian ceviche — the shrimp are pre-cooked.

20 min4 servings

Colombian Mojarra Frita whole fried tilapia

Mojarra Frita

Fried Tilapia

Colombia's most popular fried fish — a whole mojarra (tilapia) seasoned with achiote and cumin, fried until crispy, served with arroz con coco and patacones.

35 min2 servings

Colombian Pargo Rojo Frito whole fried red snapper

Pargo Rojo Frito

Fried Red Snapper

The prestige fried fish of the Colombian Caribbean — a whole red snapper fried golden, served with arroz con coco and patacones.

45 min2 servings

Colombian Encocado de Pescado fish in coconut sauce

Pacific Coast

Encocado de Pescado

Fish in Coconut Sauce

The signature dish of the Colombian Pacific coast — fish cooked in a rich, fragrant coconut milk sauce with Afro-Colombian spices.

50 min4 servings

Colombian Encocado de Camarón shrimp in coconut sauce

Pacific Coast

Encocado de Camarón

Shrimp in Coconut Sauce

The shrimp version of the Pacific coast's beloved encocado — plump shrimp in a fragrant coconut milk sauce.

40 min4 servings

Colombian Bagre en Salsa catfish in tomato sauce

Bagre en Salsa

Catfish in Sauce

A Tolima river tradition — catfish cooked in a savory tomato and herb sauce, served with yuca and rice.

50 min4 servings

Colombian Bocachico Frito fried river fish

Bocachico Frito

Fried Bocachico Fish

Fried bocachico — Colombia's most beloved river fish, fried whole until crispy and served with patacones and hogao.

35 min2 servings

Colombian Cuchuco de Trigo con Espinazo wheat and pork soup

Cuchuco de Trigo con Espinazo

Wheat & Pork Spine Soup

A thick, hearty Boyacá soup made with cracked wheat, pork spine, papa criolla, and habas (fava beans).

2 hr 30 min8 servings

Colombian Mazamorra Chiquita corn and vegetable stew

Mazamorra Chiquita

Boyacá Corn & Vegetable Stew

A thick Boyacá stew of dried corn, habas, papa criolla, and vegetables — one of Colombia's most ancient dishes.

1 hr 50 min6 servings

Colombian Pepitoria Santandereana goat offal stew

Pepitoria Santandereana

Santander Goat Offal Stew

A bold Santander stew made with goat offal, blood, and spices — one of Colombia's most distinctive and challenging regional dishes.

3 hr6 servings

Colombian Cabrito Santandereano roasted kid goat

Cabrito Santandereano

Santander Roasted Kid Goat

Santander's most celebrated meat dish — a young goat marinated in spices and slow-roasted until tender and fragrant.

27 hr8 servings

Colombian Calentado Paisa fried leftover rice and beans breakfast

Calentado Paisa

Paisa Leftover Breakfast

The beloved Paisa breakfast of reheated leftovers — yesterday's rice and beans fried together with egg, hogao, and arepa.

20 min2 servings

Colombian Huevos Pericos scrambled eggs with tomato and green onion

Huevos Pericos

Colombian Scrambled Eggs with Tomato & Onion

Colombia's most popular breakfast eggs — scrambled with tomato, long green onion, and cilantro. Simple, fast, and deeply satisfying.

Colombian Chocolate Santafereño con Queso hot chocolate with cheese

Chocolate Santafereño con Queso

Bogotá Hot Chocolate with Cheese

Bogotá's iconic breakfast drink — thick, rich hot chocolate made with a molinillo (wooden whisk), served with a piece of queso blanco dropped inside.

Natilla Colombiana

Colombian Corn Custard

Colombia's most beloved Christmas dessert — a thick, silky corn and milk custard flavored with panela, cinnamon, and cloves.

45 min8 servings

Colombian Manjar Blanco white milk caramel

Manjar Blanco

White Milk Caramel

Valle del Cauca's signature white milk caramel — a silky, sweet confection made from milk and sugar, distinct from arequipe in its lighter color and flavor.

1 hr 40 min8 servings

Colombian Arequipe golden caramel spread

Arequipe Colombiano

Colombian Dulce de Leche

Colombia's beloved golden caramel spread — slow-cooked milk and sugar until thick, golden, and deeply caramelized. Used in countless Colombian desserts.

2 hr 5 min8 servings

Colombian Obleas con Arequipe wafer sandwiches

Obleas con Arequipe

Wafer Sandwiches with Caramel

Bogotá's most beloved street snack — two thin crispy wafers sandwiched with arequipe, bocadillo, and/or queso.

5 min4 servings

Cocadas Colombianas

Colombian Coconut Sweets

Caribbean coast coconut sweets — chewy, golden balls of shredded coconut and panela, sold by street vendors across the coast.

40 min20 servings

Colombian Bocadillo Veleño con Queso guava paste with cheese

Bocadillo Veleño con Queso

Guava Paste with Cheese

Colombia's most beloved sweet-salty combination — slices of bocadillo veleño (guava paste) paired with queso blanco.

5 min4 servings

Colombian Brevas con Arequipe figs with caramel

Brevas con Arequipe

Figs with Caramel

A classic Colombian dessert combination — fresh or preserved figs (brevas) served with arequipe.

5 min4 servings

Colombian Merengón meringue cake with cream and strawberries

Merengón Colombiano

Colombian Meringue Cake

A spectacular Colombian meringue dessert — layers of crispy meringue filled with cream, strawberries, and tropical fruits.

1 hr 30 min8 servings

Colombian Milhojas thousand-layer pastry with arequipe

Milhojas Colombianas

Colombian Thousand-Layer Pastry

Colombian thousand-layer pastry — crispy puff pastry layers filled with arequipe and cream, a bakery classic.

1 hr 30 min8 servings

Colombian Torta Negra dark Christmas fruit cake

Torta Negra Colombiana

Colombian Black Fruit Cake

Colombia's iconic Christmas fruit cake — a dense, dark cake made with dried fruits soaked in aguardiente and rum for months.

3 hr12 servings

Colombian Cholado Valluno shaved ice with tropical fruits

Cholado Valluno

Valle Shaved Ice with Fruit

Cali's beloved street refreshment — shaved ice topped with tropical fruits, arequipe, bocadillo, condensed milk, and fruit syrups.

Colombian Lulada lulo fruit drink from Cali

Lulada

Lulo Fruit Drink

Cali's iconic lulo fruit drink — crushed lulo (naranjilla) with water, sugar, and lime, served over ice. Tangy, refreshing, and unmistakably Colombian.

10 min4 servings

Colombian Champús Valluno corn and fruit drink