The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Colombian Foods. If you manage to be in an Colombian restaurant or you are visiting Colombian , I recommend the following:
1. Pandebono
Pandebono is a traditional bread from the Valle del Cauca region of Colombia, made with corn flour, cassava starch, cheese and egg, and occasionally served with guava paste. While pandebono can be found in many bakeries throughout the country.
2. Patacones
Patacones or Tostones are made from peeled green plantains, cut into thick pieces crosswise and fried twice. These patacones are served in restaurants all over Colombia as an accompaniment to fish dishes or as an appetizer with guacamole, hogao (tomato and onion sauce) or aji (hot sauce).
3. Fritanga
This dish can be found in a variety of forms throughout Colombia and each contains slightly different ingredients depending on the region or restaurant. This hearty and meaty dish contains a variety of grilled meats (chicken, beef, pork chicharrón, chorizo) and is usually served with a variety of different types of potatoes, arepas, plantains and corn. This dish is designed to be shared among family or friends, each with a fork or cocktail stick to dig into this dish.
4. Empanadas
Empanadas can be found throughout Latin America, but Colombian empanadas are fried empanadas made with corn flour or trino flour and contain a variety of ingredients including rice, meat, egg, potatoes or vegetables.
5. Buñuelos
These Buñuelos are a traditional Colombian treat and are one of the main dishes during the Christmas season, but they are also popular all year round for breakfast with hot chocolate or coffee. They are traditionally made with Queso Costeño, which is a white Colombian cheese that is a little saltier and harder than Queso Fresco.
6. Bandeja Paisa
It is a traditional meal from the Paisa region of Colombia, which includes the cities of Medellín, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Guatape and Jardín. This hearty meal usually contains white rice, red beans, ground or minced meat, plantain, chorizo, corn, pork crackling, fried egg, arepa and an avocado. The ingredients may vary from city to city and from restaurant to restaurant, with certain ingredients being added or removed. Portion size can also vary between a full meal and half or a quarter of the size of the traditional dish.
7. Cholado Colombiano
Cholado is a mix between a frozen dessert, fruit cocktail, and a refreshing drink; it is made with shaved ice, fresh fruit, condensed milk, passion fruit and blackberry sauce, and topped with shredded coconut and a cherry. It’s a super craved dessert on summer days. Among the fruits used are: banana, green apple, strawberries, grapes, papaya, pineapple.
8. Sancocho
Sancocho comes from the traditional Spanish dish and is popular throughout South America, and each country has a unique take on the dish. Colombia is no different: the Colombian dish varies between fish from the coast and different types of meat from other regions. It always contains yucca, corn, potatoes and plantain, and is usually served with white rice.
9. Tamales
Tamales can be found throughout Central and South America, served in a variety of forms and with a variety of ingredients. Colombians traditionally eat tamales with meat, vegetables, fruit or cheese and this corn-based delicacy is served and cooked wrapped in a banana leaf. Tamales can be found all over Colombia in supermarkets or restaurants.
10. Arepas
Arepas are the most common traditional dish in Colombia and are served as a side dish or as a meal in their own right. Arepas are served throughout Central and South America, but Colombia has its own original type of arepa. Arepas come in several varieties, including arepas de choco (made from sweet corn and filled with cheese), arepas con queso (filled with cheese) and arepas de huevo (a fried arepa with an egg cracked inside and then refried).
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional South American Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.