15 recipes

Caribbean Coast

Sun, Sea, and Coconut

The Colombian Caribbean coast is a world of coconut milk, fresh seafood, and African-influenced flavors. From Cartagena to Santa Marta, this is Colombia's most vibrant and festive cuisine.

15 Recipes from Caribbean Coast

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

Intermediate

Caribbean Coast

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 Cazuela de Mariscos with shrimp, crab, and coconut broth

Intermediate

Caribbean Coast

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

Beginner

Caribbean Coast

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 Posta Negra Cartagenera dark braised beef roast

Advanced

Caribbean Coast

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

IntermediateStreet Food

Caribbean Coast

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 Carimañolas yuca fritters stuffed with beef

IntermediateStreet Food

Caribbean Coast

Carimañolas

Yuca & Meat Fritters

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

50 min8 servings

Colombian Enyucado yuca and coconut cake

Beginner

Caribbean Coast

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

Beginner

Caribbean Coast

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

Intermediate

Caribbean Coast

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

Intermediate

Caribbean Coast

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

Intermediate

Caribbean Coast

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 Suero Costeño Caribbean sour cream

Intermediate

Caribbean Coast

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 Ceviche de Camarón shrimp ceviche

BeginnerStreet Food

Caribbean Coast

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 Pargo Rojo Frito whole fried red snapper

Intermediate

Caribbean Coast

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

BeginnerStreet Food

Caribbean Coast

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