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Bogotá & Highlands
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16 recipes

Bogotá & Highlands

The Capital's Refined Cuisine

Bogotá and the Cundiboyacense highlands produce Colombia's most refined and ancient cuisine. The cold Andean climate shapes a cuisine of warming soups, hearty stews, and comforting drinks.

16 Recipes from Bogotá & Highlands

Steaming bowl of Colombian Ajiaco Santafereño with three potato varieties, chicken, corn, and creamIntermediate
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 hr6–8 servings
Colombian Changua breakfast soup with poached egg, bread, and cilantroBeginner
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 cilantroBeginner
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 Sobrebarriga en Salsa Criolla sliced flank steakIntermediate
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 Lomo al Trapo beef tenderloin on coalsAdvanced
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 Tamal Santafereño from BogotáAdvanced
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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
Colombian Arepa Boyacense thick cheese-filled arepa from BoyacáBeginner
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 Almojábana cheese rolls fresh from the ovenBeginner
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 Papas Chorreadas potatoes in hogao sauceBeginner
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 sauceBeginner
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 Fritanga Bogotana fried meat platterIntermediateStreet Food
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 Cuchuco de Trigo con Espinazo wheat and pork soupAdvanced
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 stewIntermediate
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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 Chocolate Santafereño con Queso hot chocolate with cheeseBeginner
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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.

15 min2 servings
Colombian Obleas con Arequipe wafer sandwichesBeginnerStreet Food
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

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
Colombian Brevas con Arequipe figs with caramelBeginner
Bogotá / Cundiboyacense

Brevas con Arequipe

Figs with Caramel

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

5 min4 servings