Colombian Food
In our Colombia cost of living article, food was brought up as an example of a cheap good. Every country, city, region, or town has their own distinct food culture. Colombia is no different, and in our opinion, one of the most underrated cuisines out there. We want to help you find your new country. That can be difficult if you are someone who may not like to try new things, or doesn’t like to expand beyond a set few restaurants.
Thus, at Where to Expat, we understand that making a decision to live in another country requires trade offs. One of those tradeoffs is giving up creature comforts you may have in your home country. Food is a crucial aspect to everyone’s life, we all have our preferences and habits. If you are considering Colombia, know that most globally recognized brands do operate in the country, such as McDonald’s, however most of the food available is local to the country.
Let us dive into Colombia food to help you decide if you will enjoy the local cuisine.
Arepas
Arepas are a maize dough based food items. Nevertheless, arepas are made in a variety of ways, savory to sweet, and a staple of Colombia food culture. You can find arepas included with many meals at restaurants, they are a typical snack, and are found all over Colombian cities as a standard street food.
Hence, what’s so great about arepa is the versatility. In Medellín, a locally made arepa is full of cheese, inside and dressed with. Arepa con queso, is one of the most common ways to prepare an arepa. In the Caribbean city of Cartagena the local arepa is an egg stuffed arepa that have been deep fried, it’s one of my favorites.
Moreover, arepas can are found pre-made, but the process is simple to do at home, making for an easy homemade treat at the end of the day.
Bandeja Paisa
The bandeja paisa is an incredible dish. Hungover? Bandeja Paisa. Starving after a hard day or workout? Bandeja Paisa. Need comfort food? Bandeja Paisa. This dish hailed from the Paisa Region, especially Antioquia. The combination of meat, rice and beans, arepa or other maize item, a fat slice of perfect avocado, a thick strip of chicharron, plantain, chorizo, yuca, and some black pudding will fill you up, comfort your soul, and cure your hangover.
Moreover, Colombia loves a few things, meat, potato, plantain, and arepa. All of which are typically included in a bandeja paisa dish. A great aspect of this dish are the options, if you don’t want yuca or black pudding, you can swap it out for something else. If you want to make this at home, you only need a few items to bring it all together.
Ajiaco
Soups are a staple in the Colombian diet, Ajiaco may be my favorite. A common dish in the capital, Bogotá, this stew consists of chicken, potato, and and her called Galinsoga parviflora. Known locally as guasca or guascas.
Additionally, this stew is filling, but not heavy, and warms the body on a cold day. The stew is usually served with a peice of corn on the cod, cream, capers, and giant slice of avocado. A simple yet powerful dish that will make you reminisce of your mother or grandmother’s own chicken soup with a twist, at least this is what I was reminded of.
Furthermore, ajiaco was the first dish I experienced while I was in Colombia for the first time. I may have stronger feelings for this dish over the others detailed, as it was prepared by the mother of my significant other. Although I was able to compare the home cooked version of this dish with a restaurant version at the oldest restaurant in Bogotá, La Puerta Falsa. However, with the mild weather in Bogotá, I can’t think of a better meal.
Conclusion
If you do not want to venture out and experience the local food, Colombia if full of everything you can find anywhere in the USA. When I visited Medellín, I found a vegetarian, vegan friendly, pizza restaurant slightly off the beaten path which baked amazing pies.
I would consider Colombian cuisine as conservative. The main goal is to provide lasting satisfaction with simple ingredients and flavors. Colombian food has never disappointed in delivering on such a goal. But if you need something more ‘western’, most large restaurant chains operate in the country. Grocery stores stock a fair amount of familiar items, so the taste of home may not be too far away.