Colombia is likely more famous for its coffee than its gastronomy. Despite being overshadowed by the more well-known cuisines of Brazil, Peru, and even Mexico, Colombian foods are flavorful, colourful, and cosy. Pork, potatoes, plantains, poultry, beans, maize, and rice are common ingredients.

The food varies by location but is inspired by indigenous Colombian traditions as well as Spanish, African, and Arab civilizations. While some may believe that Colombian cuisine is boring, too fried, overly salty, and meat-heavy, this is not necessarily the case. Here are 13 delectable Colombian foods that you must try.

Paisa Bandeja

The bandeja paisa, one of Colombia’s most popular meals, is essentially a plate packed with various items. Rice, red beans, a fried egg, avocado, fried plantains, chicharron (pork crackling), ground beef or steak, and pork sausage are typical ingredients.

Aborrajados

This meal of filled plantains with cheese is popular across Colombia. Plantain packed with cheese is coated in batter and deep-fried. It may also be grilled or baked. There are also aborrajado versions that are stuffed with guava pasta (bocadillo).

Ajiaco

Ajiaco, a thick and hearty chicken and potato soup, is particularly popular in ajiaco’s capital, Bogotá. Guasca (the Galinsoga parviflora plant found across South America) is often used to make it, and it is eaten with maize, avocado, and sour cream.

Pandebono

Pandebono, a Colombian bread prepared with maize flour, yuca (cassava), cheese, and eggs, is supposed to have been invented by an Italian baker in Cali. It is often served warm with hot chocolate. The cheese toast is sometimes stuffed with guava jam (bocadillo).

Sancocho

Sancocho is another classic hearty soup. Meat, plantain, yucca (cassava), coriander, sweetcorn, and potatoes are typical ingredients in the Spanish cocido. The components vary by area, such as the usage of seafood on the Caribbean coast;

Sancocho de Gallina, which is prepared with chicken; and Sancocho Trifásico, which is made with three different kinds of meat. Sancocho is often served with rice, either on the side or included into the soup.

Pastel de Gloria

The Pastel de Gloria is a puff pastry filled with guava jam and cheese that is one of Colombia’s most exquisite sweets. Granulated sugar is sprinkled on top.

Cazuela de Mariscos

This hearty and savoury fish stew is popular along Colombia’s coast. It’s created with coconut milk and a variety of seafood, including shrimp, prawns, clams, octopus, and fish.

Obleas

A waffle-like wafer filled with dulce de leche makes up this delectable Colombian dessert (known as arequipe in Colombia). It’s comparable to a stroopwafel in the Netherlands.

Fritanga

A fritanga is a communal basket of different fried meats intended to be shared by a group. Sausage, chicharrón (pork rind), plantains, papa criolla (small yellow potatoes), and arepas are popular ingredients. It is often served with spicy aj sauce.

Enyucado

The Caribbean area is where you’ll find this Colombian cassava cake. It is created with boiling yuca, anise, sugar, and sometimes guava jam. Enyucado is sometimes served with soft costeo cheese.

Buñuelos

These stodgy bread balls are a classic Christmas meal as well as a breakfast favourite. They’re created with flour and stuffed with gooey costeo cheese before being deep-fried till golden brown. They go well with chocolate sauce.

Natilla

Natillas is a Colombian variant of a Spanish custard. This hard eggless custard is usually served at Christmas and is made with milk, cornflour, and spices.

Patacones

Fried green plantains are quite popular across Latin America. The plantain, however, is crushed into pancakes before being deep fried in Colombian patacones. In restaurants, they are often offered as a side dish.