According to CNN Travel, Colombia is home to some of the most delicious food in South America.
While they originally ranked the country due to its delicious coffee recipes and chocolate with cheese (yes, with cheese), there’s a lot more to Colombia than just coffee.
Filled with flavor that ranges from the Caribbean coast all the way to the Andes mountains, you have lots of choices for food when you visit Colombia.
Here are some of the most delicious and easy-to-make Colombian recipes.
Bandeja Paisa
You literally can’t go anywhere in the country’s “paisa” region without seeing an overwhelming amount of local restaurants advertising what they call the “bandeja paisa.”
What makes this one of the most famous Colombian food recipes? Literally everything. It’s packed full of a variety of different foods that all combine together to make one huge, filling dish.
The recipe calls for:
- Paisa pinto beans
- White rice
- Ground beef
- Fried pork belly
- Chorizo
- Fried eggs
- Baked plantain
- Arepa
Yes, it really is that dense and yes, it really is that delicious. Bandeja Paisa recipe.
Ajiaco Bogotano
This recipe is native of the country’s capital city of Bogota. However, you can find it all throughout the country, especially in the colder climates where the soup doubles as an entree and a hand warmer.
Not only is ajiaco a staple of Colombian cooking, but it’s also one of the easiest recipes from Colombia to make.
All you need to make Colombian ajiaco is:
- Chicken breast
- Onion
- Chicken stock
- Mixed potatoes (Andean, russet, red, white)
- Fresh corn
- Cilantro
Depending on where you get your ajiaco, they’ll serve it with different spices, but usually always with cream, capers, and some sort of local salsa. Ajiaco Bogotano recipe.
Colombian Refajo
Every country seems to have its local mixture of beer and soda. In Colombia, their version is refajo.
When it comes to the best Colombian recipes, you can’t miss out on this one if you want to enjoy a drink like a true local.
For this recipe, however, you’ll need to head to Colombia or your local Latino grocery store as it calls for a typical soda called Colombiana.
The Refajo recipe is as simple as can be. Mix equal parts beer (try Club Colombia, the country’s national beer) with Colombiana and you’ve got one of the most refreshing drinks for your next asado or block party.
Torta Negra
You didn’t think we were going to leave out dessert, did you?
While this recipe literally translates to “black cake,” there are more than hundreds, if not thousands, of varieties of this cake.
Every Colombian family is going to have their own recipe for this cake, which means that you can try lots of different flavors if you travel throughout the country with locals.
However, a general recipe calls for prunes, raisins, port wine, dark rum, figs, and cinnamon.
Other variants include cloves, vanilla, and sometimes even dried fruit.
Torta Negra is truly a staple dish of Colombia which is why it made our list of 17 Best Colombian Food Dishes You Should Try Right Now!
Looking for More Colombian Recipes?
Colombia is well-known for its variety of dishes that you can’t find in any other Latin country.
From desserts and sides to entrees and even drinks, you’re never left without choices in Colombia.
Did this list of Colombian recipes not quench your thirst (and taste buds) for Colombian food?
Head over to our Colombian food section for more delectable dishes that will have you looking for the next flight to Cartagena or Medellin just to try them in-person.
More Colombian Foods
See all →
Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.