World Recipe: Bandeja Paisa

17 Ago World Recipe: Bandeja Paisa

Bandeja paisa is much more than just a dish — it’s a traditional feast that represents the generosity and rich flavors of Colombian cuisine. With a variety of ingredients and textures, it’s perfect for lovers of hearty, homemade food.

Ingredients

• 150 g pinto beans (soaked overnight)
• 1 large onion or 2 small ones
• 2–3 bay leaves
• A few sprigs of thyme
• 4–5 garlic cloves
• 200 g fresh pork belly (in a thick piece)
• Salt and ground black pepper
• Baking soda
• Oil for frying
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 2–3 tomatoes
• 200 g ground beef
• 100 g rice
• 125 g precooked corn flour
• 250 ml water (for the arepas)
• Grated cheese (optional)
• 2 chorizo sausages
• ½ ripe plantain
• 2 eggs
• ½ ripe avocado

Preparation

• Cook the beans with onion, bay leaves, thyme, and garlic for 10 minutes over high heat, then 1.5–2 hours on low heat until tender. Cut the pork belly into cubes without separating the skin, season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with baking soda, and let rest for 30 minutes. Boil for 30 minutes, drain, sprinkle again with baking soda, and fry until golden.
• Sauté the onion and tomato (hogao) and mix ¼ of it with the ground beef, previously browned. Cook the rice with garlic, bay leaf, and salt for 18–20 minutes. Make the arepas with corn flour, water, salt, and oil; brown for 5 minutes per side (fill with cheese if desired).
• Grill the chorizo, fry the plantain and eggs. Serve everything with fresh avocado.

A dish full of tradition that tastes like home. Enjoy!