Bandeja Paisa
Originating from the Antioquia region (around MedellĂn), Bandeja Paisa is less a single dish than a statement of abundance.
It typically includes:
- Grilled beef (carne asada)
- Crispy pork belly (chicharrĂłn)
- Red beans cooked with pork
- White rice
- Fried egg
- Plantain
- Avocado
- Arepa
- Sometimes blood sausage (morcilla)
Originally designed to fuel farmers and laborers in the mountains, Bandeja Paisa reflects Colombia’s rural roots, caloric needs, and pride in hearty, communal food. It’s famously served on an oversized plate—because it simply doesn’t fit anywhere else.
Honourable mentions (often cited alongside it):
- Ajiaco (Bogotá’s chicken, potato & corn soup)
- Sancocho (a slow-cooked soup found across the country)
- Arepas (ubiquitous, but regionally distinct)