The diverse flavors, aromas, and colors of Colombian cuisine resoundingly reside in plantains, coconuts, yuca, fresh seafood, grilled meat, and rich stews that combine all of the above. These ingredients only scratch the surface of inspired ingredients from the coast to the mountains, and into the jungle of Colombia.

Take a culinary ride through the following Colombian appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, snacks, and deserts on your tailored trip with Kuoda!

Colombian Ceviche

Ceviche styles and flavors vary dramatically through Latin America. Other countries have adopted the original Peruvian method of marinating fresh fish and seafood in lime juice.

Colombian ceviche departs from Peru’s classic preparation due to the presence of tomatoes in its sauce, alongside lime, salt, and cilantro. The Colombian appetizer most resembles Ecuadorian ceviche in this sense. However, in Colombia, ceviche is served with crackers instead of the canchita (popcorn) that accompanies Ecuador’s ceviche.

Platano Asado

From plantain chips to plantain fritters, plantain donuts, and plantain soups… Colombian cuisine is all about the plantain. And platano asado (roasted plantains) remains one of the most popular Colombian appetizers and side dishes.

Platano asado consists of an entire ripe plantain, sliced open, rubbed with butter or oil, and filled to the brim with smooth mozzarella cheese. It is then gingerly placed in a white-hot oven and baked to perfection until the mozzarella begins to bubble over the sides.

Ajiaco

Ajiaco is the chicken soup for the soul of Colombia, and especially for Bogotá. Ajiaco starts with a thick soup base of either beef or chicken broth, and at least three varieties of local potatoes.

As the potatoes slowly break down, the cook will add the most essential ingredient, a Colombian herb called guascas (gallant soldier). Finally, they add shredded chicken as a garnish, along with thick slices of avocado, capers, sour cream, corn, and cilantro.

Bandeja Paisa

Bandeja Paisa joins ajiaco as another national Colombian must-try dish. Bandeja means “tray” in Spanish. This replete tray of goodies includes ground beef, fried pork, chorizo, white rice, red beans, a fried egg, fried plantains, avocado, and an arepa (see below).

Offering a bite from every Colombian region, the bandeja paisa also brings together rich local culinary traditions all on one giant plate.

Arepas

Some say the arepa is the only side dish that really counts in Colombia because Colombians will eat them with every single meal. Although arepas are eaten throughout Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, the arepa serves as a symbol of national pride for many Colombians.

Put simply, arepas are savory maize patties or corn flatbread. Arepas can be grilled, fried, boiled, baked, or steamed depending on regional preference. They can either be served plain or stuffed with cheese, egg, or meat. However, no matter how the arepa appears on your plate, your taste buds are in for an enjoyable ride.

Arroz con Coco

The ubiquitous coconut graces many Colombian recipes on the coast, both in the Pacific and Caribbean. Arroz con Coco is a sumptuous savory-sweet side dish featuring white rice, coconut milk, raisins, sugar, and salt. Arroz con Coco pairs perfectly with fish dishes!

Enyucado

Yuca (aka cassava) belongs to the root vegetable family and represents a food stable for much of the world. Colombian cuisine features the yuca root in various types of bread, empanadas, stews, and, in the case of enyucado, cake!

This savory-sweet baked-good features shredded yuca, cheese, coconut, and star anise. It is perfect for an afternoon snack served with a rich cup of Colombian coffee.

Torta Envinada

Soaked in wine, this cake brings life to any dinner party or celebration! Roughly translating to wine cake, torta envinada presents a glorious combination of spices, dried fruit, nuts, caramel, and wine! The sweet red wine comes in after it bakes and is left to soak for a good day or so.

With such a deep roster of ingredients and regional variations on classic dishes, it is no wonder that Colombia is gaining international ground as a culinary destination!

Costeño cuisine is an alluring combination of multi-cultural influence, local ingredients, and age-old recipes. Seafood, coconut, sugar, and the deep fryer feature prominently in many of the dishes that compose the local diet and though it’s not all healthy, there’s a long lineage of history and tradition in every bite. So, push the calorie-counting aside for now, and dig into the unique and diverse dishes of traditional costeño cuisine.

Here’s what to try during your visit to Colombia’s Caribbean coast:

5. Peto Costeño

Later in the day, after your morning arepa de huevo, another popular street snack is peto, a drink made from dried corn, water, milk, coconut cream, cinnamon, and panela. You’ll hear the calls of the local peto vendors carting or cycling their supply through town in large metal pots. It’s the perfect mid-day snack or after-dinner dessert, as it’s both sweet and filling enough.

6. Enyucado

Continuing with the theme of between meal bites and dessert, sampling enyucado deserves a spot on every traveler’s Cartagena trip itinerary. This dense and delicious cake is made from cassava, coconut, sugar, butter, anise, and queso costeño with a pinch of salt. It’s a sweet and savory treat that many a costeño will salivate over at its mere mention and one that likely fills their childhood memories, too.

Ready to Sample Costeño cuisine?

Costeño cuisine may not be the healthiest you’ll sample on your custom tour of Colombia, but it will certainly be one of the most memorable and delicious of your trip. Our recommendation: put the diet and calorie counting on pause and try it all!

Colombian cuisine may not have the world’s attention, but when travelling to Medellin or the Coffee Region you’ll think that it does. Paisas, those from the state of Antioquia, are some of the most passionate proponents of Colombian cuisine. And their range of local Antioquian cuisine could be the reason why. It’s hearty, filling, and, so flavorful that you’ll be raving about it as much as the Paisas by trip’s end. Here’s a primer on what dishes to dig into during your tour of Medellin and the coffee region of Colombia.

1. Bandeja Paisa

The first thing you need to know about this dish is that it’s the pride and joy of Antioquian cusine. Served on a tray with heaping portions of red beans, rice, avocado, plantains, fried pork belly, blood sausage, and arepas, it’s the perfect introduction to Antioquia’s food culture. One thing’s for sure, you’ll want to order this hearty dish on an empty stomach.

2. Mondongo

Mondongo is an Antioquian tripe soup, usually made with cow or pig’s stomach, slow-cooked vegetables, and coriander served alongside a plate of rice, ground meat, avocado, bananas, and arepas. Yes, this dish is a little on the adventurous side and yes it’s a lot of food on one plate, but it’s definitely worth a try during your visit to Medellin, just plan to dig in after your private tour of the city.

3. Cazuela de Frijoles

If tripe soup doesn’t sound appetizing to you, perhaps cazuela de frijoles will. This popular lunch and dinnertime dish is essentially Antioquian beans served in a bowl with rice, fried pork belly, chorizo, plantains, avocados, and arepas. Beans are a staple in the Antioquian diet and this is one of the best ways to enjoy them during your trip to Medellin or the coffee region.

4. Buñuelos

It’s true that you’ll find these cheesy fried dough balls at nearly every stop on your Colombia tour, but the Antioquian version is worth a special mention. Their texture and flavor is mouthwateringly unique, as more than a few Buñuelerías in Antioquia have mastered the ideal consistency and mixture of cheese. Buñuelos are the perfect grab-and-go snack between meals or for a quick foodie adventure between events on your Colombia itinerary. Just be sure to order a fresh one.

5. Tinto Campesino

No list of Antioquian cuisine would be complete without a mention of coffee. Here it is: tinto campesino. This black coffee drink is brewed with agua de panela (unrefined cane sugar water), cinnamon, and clove. It’s so good that even the staunch black coffee, no sugar drinkers, find themselves ordering it again and again on their Colombia trip.

Which of these Antioquian cuisine favorites will you be trying on your custom Colombia tour? The world of food and drink in Colombia is vast and this post only covered one region. Up next, we’ll be featuring the must-try cuisines of the Colombia coast.