29 recipes

National / Pan-Colombian

Dishes That Belong to All Colombia

Some dishes transcend regional boundaries and belong to all of Colombia — Hogao, Arroz Blanco, Yuca Frita, and Ají Colombiano are found from the Caribbean to the Amazon.

29 Recipes from National / Pan-Colombian

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

Intermediate

National / Pan-Colombian

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

Advanced

National / Pan-Colombian

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 Sudado de Pollo chicken stew with potatoes and cilantro

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

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

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

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 Empanadas golden fried corn masa pockets

IntermediateStreet Food

National / Pan-Colombian

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 Rellena de Queso cheese-stuffed arepa

BeginnerStreet Food

National / Pan-Colombian

Arepa Rellena de Queso

Cheese-Stuffed Arepa

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

30 min4 servings

Colombian Arepa con Hogao with tomato and onion sofrito

BeginnerStreet Food

National / Pan-Colombian

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.

30 min4 servings

Colombian Patacones con Hogao twice-fried green plantains

BeginnerStreet Food

National / Pan-Colombian

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.

30 min4 servings

Colombian Buñuelos golden fried cheese fritters

Intermediate

National / Pan-Colombian

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

Colombian Arroz con Pollo golden chicken and rice

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

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

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

Lentejas Colombianas

Colombian Lentils

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

55 min6 servings

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

Garbanzos Colombianos

Colombian Chickpeas

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

1 hr 10 min6 servings

Colombian Yuca Frita golden fried yuca sticks

BeginnerStreet Food

National / Pan-Colombian

Yuca Frita

Fried Yuca

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

30 min4 servings

Colombian Yuca Sudada con Hogao braised yuca

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

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

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

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.

15 min2 servings

Colombian Tajadas de Maduro golden fried ripe plantain slices

BeginnerStreet Food

National / Pan-Colombian

Tajadas de Maduro

Fried Ripe Plantain Slices

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

15 min2 servings

Colombian Hogao tomato and onion sofrito sauce

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

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

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

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

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

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

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

Guacamole Colombiano

Colombian Guacamole

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

10 min4 servings

Intermediate

National / Pan-Colombian

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 Mojarra Frita whole fried tilapia

BeginnerStreet Food

National / Pan-Colombian

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 Bocachico Frito fried river fish

BeginnerStreet Food

National / Pan-Colombian

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 Huevos Pericos scrambled eggs with tomato and green onion

Beginner

National / Pan-Colombian

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.

15 min2 servings

Intermediate

National / Pan-Colombian

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 Arequipe golden caramel spread

Intermediate

National / Pan-Colombian

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