Colombia: 195 Country Cooking Challenge

Mackenzie DeArment
Oct 6, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Oct 7, 2024

Welcome to the eighth country of the 195 Country Cooking Challenge - where I cook a popular dish from all 195 countries around the world! If you missed the previous countries, you can check those out on my blog as well as my YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok (That Country Cook). Along the journey, I will be sharing these recipes with you plus some interesting facts about each country. My goal is to teach you a bit about each country while you eat or cook their cuisine! Today, I will be cooking the National Dish of Colombia!

The National Dish of Colombia

Bandeja paisa is a traditional Colombian dish that originates from the Antioquia region in the western part of the country.

Its roots can be traced back to the late 19th century when it was developed as a hearty meal for laborers in the coffee-growing areas of the Andes.

The dish reflects the diverse agricultural products of the region and the cultural influences of various groups, including Indigenous peoples, Spanish colonizers, and African slaves. It typically includes ingredients like rice, beans, ground beef or pork, chicharrón (fried pork belly), avocado, plantains, and arepas.

Bandeja paisa was traditionally served on a large platter, or "bandeja," which contributes to its name. Over time, it has evolved and gained popularity beyond Antioquia, becoming a symbol of Colombian cuisine as a whole. Today, bandeja paisa is celebrated not only for its flavors but also for its representation of Colombian culture and history.

You can definitely make this dish at home, but it will take you a while! I will link where I found recipes to each part of the dish.

Facts About Colombia

What is it about this country that makes it so unique?

Before European arrival, the region was inhabited by indigenous groups like the Muisca and Tairona, who developed advanced societies. The Spanish began colonization in the early 16th century, establishing settlements such as Santa Fé de Bogotá and claiming the territory as part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.

The push for independence began in 1810, leading to the formation of Gran Colombia in 1819, which included modern-day Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. However, Gran Colombia broke by 1831 due to internal conflicts.

The 19th century brought political instability and civil wars, while the early 20th century saw Panama separate from Colombia in 1903. From the 1960s onward, Colombia faced prolonged internal conflict involving guerrilla groups and drug trafficking. A significant peace agreement was signed with the FARC in 2016, marking a hopeful turn towards stability.

The flag of Colombia is yellow, blue, and red. The yellow represents the country's gold, the wealth of the soil, and the sun. The blue represents the seas, rivers, and sky. The red represents the blood spilled fighting for Colombia's independence.

Colombia is 440,831 square miles of land. The most common jobs in the country are in the services sector. These include jobs like teaching, nursing, maintenance, and retail.

The official language of Colombia is Spanish, with around 99% of the population speaking it as their first language.

Cooking the National Dish of Colombia

Because there are so many different elements in this dish, I have decided to link where I got the recipes. I will also share what order I cooked these in to create the full dish.

NOTE: It took me two days!

Colombian-style beans

Rice

Arepas

Plantains

MY STEPS:

DAY 1