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What to Eat in Colombia? In This Blog We Share 2 of Our Most Beloved Dishes!
Colombia is a very culturally diverse country. Our view of the world and customs are the result of all the different cultures that mixed together over the years. Since ancient indigenous times, to the arrival of the Spanish, Europeans and millenarian African tribes, these cultures have shared stories, customs, ingredients and plates. Hence, our food has the legacy of all of them. However, we can agree that there are two dishes that are in the heart of all Colombians, and are eaten widely throughout the nation: Arepas and Empanadas.
Let's Talk Empanadas!
The empanadas are “bag shaped” cakes filled with many different preparations. The dough is a crunchy fritter made out of ground corn and they can be filled with many different preparations like meat, chicken, potatoes and tomato and onion “salsa” (commonly known as “hogao”). Every region has its own version of the empanada according to the cuisine culture and ingredients that predominate in that area, but all of them are special and delicious.
In the region of El Valle del Cauca, where the city of Cali is located, empanadas are mainly filled with a preparation of shredded meat, smashed potato and, again, “hogao salsa”. In Bogotá (the capital city of Colombia), rice and ground meat are the most used ingredients, sometimes with a boiled egg added. And in Medellin (Antioquia region) and Guatapé you can find the traditional “empanada de iglesia” filled with smashed potato or with shredded meat, smashed potato and again the traditional “hogao salsa”. Even though there are types of empanadas that are traditional to a specific region as described above, it is also common to find many different versions of empanadas in every region.
Check out our empanada cooking class experience in Guatapé, Colombia to learn everything about this delicious Colombian fritter and the tips and tricks to make it perfectly!
Let's Dig Into the Delicious Arepa!
The arepas or “flatbread” are also made out of ground corn, like the empanadas. This is no surprise as corn is a very popular ingredient in many Colombian dishes and preparations, as it has been widely cultivated since pre hispanic times by the indigenous people. Arepas are rounded and flat, mostly made to put something on top (like cheese, chicharron, shredded meat) or opened to be filled with different preparations (like egg, cheese, meat). What varies most in the arepa from region to region is what is added to the corn dough, the type and color of the corn (sweet, white, yellow) and the way of cooking it (like deep fried or on a wood stove).
If coming to Colombia or visiting Guatapé you can't miss eating a delicious arepa and empanada. In Guatapé you can find arepas and empanadas in most tiendas around the main square. Don't forget to taste them as soon as you arrive, because we are sure you'll want to eat them more than once, so don't leave it till the last minute.
Read our blog for more information and stories about Colombia, its food, biodiversity and its loving people: our Medium blog.
And contact us for awesome experiences in Guatapé, Colombia.