Bandeja Paisa

Origin:

The origin of the “Bandeja paisa” (Main Dishes) was influenced by many cultures that lived in Colombia throughout several centuries, including the indigenous peoples of Colombia, also colonial Spaniards and Africans. The current form and presentation of the paisa platter is recent.  

This dish is typical of the cuisine of Antioquia: departments of "Antioquia", "Viejo Caldas" o "Eje Cafetero" (Caldas, Quindio and Risaralda), northern part of "Valle del Cauca" and the northern of "Tolima" in Colombia. 

Ingredients:

The main ingredients which must be present in the dish to be considered a good “Bandeja paisa” is: Red beans cooked with pork, white rice, ground meat, pork rind, fried eggs, plantain (patacones), sausage, “arepa”(Fast food), hogao sauce, and avocado.

Side dishes:

Side dishes include “mazamorra” (a maize-derived) with milk and “panela” (sweetener). Some Antioquian restaurants offer an "extended" “Bandeja paisa”, also known as seven meats platter, which contains, besides the aforementioned ingredients, grilled steak, grilled pork and liver.