15 Unique and Delicious Colombian Dishes You Must Try!
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Loading... - Anton Hristova
- 09 Sep 2022
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Colombia’s diverse landscapes, rich history, vibrant culture, and unique culinary tastes make it one of the top backpacking destinations in South America.
Every region of Colombia whips up its own collection of flavours and spices. Drawing influences from the country’s colonial past, you can eat your way across the mountains and beaches finding delectable mouthfuls and interesting snacks.
Any well-seasoned traveller knows that food can make or break an adventure, and Colombian food does not disappoint! Check out all the must-try dishes.
What is Food in Colombian Like?
Exploring Colombia is phenomenal, as it is pretty interesting geographically. It hosts 10% of the mighty Amazon Rainforest, as well as a Caribbean Ocean and Pacific Ocean coastline. These significant alinements make for some beautiful scenery, and incredibly fresh ingredients – from seafood to fruits, veg and meats.
Stews and soups are a firm favourite to make use of all the tasty, fresh ingredients on hand. Central Colombia has a meat heavy diet, while those in the coastal regions have easy access to the best seafood in the country.
Loving a good fried snack, tasty side dish or super sweet dessert, Colombians take advantage of everything at their fingertips to create some amazing meals. You will see ultra-fresh vegetables on the side of most meals, along with plenty of carbs.
Understanding Colombian Food Culture
Every plate of Colombian food is reflective of its geographic origins. You’ll notice a subtle difference in cuisine as you journey from coast to coast. That being said, its all magnificent!
For Colombians, lunch is the most important part of the day. This is the main meal where families and friends will gather with piled plates of delicious food, sometimes taking up to 2 hours! Lunch is a full 3-course event with a soup, a meat dish, and then a sweet finale – not forgetting a sip of world-famous Colombian coffee. After all the delicious bites, it’s time for a little siesta before heading back to work. I can certainly get on board with the nap, but having such a large meal in the middle of the day is pretty foreign to Westerners.
Dinner is usually a light affair, probably more of a snack by our standards. Most will have arepa (bread and cheese) accompanied by a hot cup of coffee.
The adventurous among us can try preparing their own versions of Colombian favourites in a locally-led cooking class.
15 Must-Try Colombian Dishes
The diverse colonial history of Colombia has had a huge factor on its cuisine, leading to some of the tastiest dishes in the world. Here are the 15 Colombian dishes you can’t miss!
1. Aguapanela
Aguapanela, or panela water, is a nonalcoholic drink that is popular and readily available across South America.
Made by mixing water, lemon juice, and unrefined sugar cane, in the summer it can be seen everywhere refreshing the masses. It is Colombian’s take on lemonade, and tastes heavenly when you have been out in the sun.
The basic recipe of aguapanela remains the same, but street vendors add some pizazz by mixing in a variety of ‘Western’ flavors. Coffee and hot chocolate are two of the most common aguapanela variants.
When you are in the mood for something a little stronger, ask for a glass of canelazo. It is aguapanela mixed with alcohol for that extra kick! Read More...
