Bandeja paisa is a variety of traditional foods including red beans, pork, white rice, chorizo, plantain, eggs, arepa and avocado.
This Colombian dish is served on a big plate mostly as breakfast. However, you can enjoy bandeja paisa at any time of the day.
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How to Make the Perfect Colombian Bandeja Paisa Recipe at Home
Description
Bandeja paisa is a variety of traditional foods including red beans, pork, white rice, chorizo, plantain, eggs, arepa and avocado.
Background and Origin
Bandeja paisa is one of the most representative meals in Colombia. The dish is mostly popular in Antioquia and the Paisa region. The Spanish word paisa refers to a person from the Paisa region, and bandeja is Spanish for platter.
Colombian bandeja paisa was influenced by several different cultures over the centuries. Among them are Colombia's indigenous peoples, Spanish invaders, British, French, and Africans.
Today, bandeja paisa is served with a modern twist.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Bandeja Paisa
- Soak the beans overnight to soften them. Transfer them to a pressure cooker. Add one tablespoon of garlic paste, the stalk of the spring onions, a quarter of the white onion, half of the bell pepper, and the carrot. Peel and cut the plantain into two pieces and add them to the pot.
- Add the bay leaves and salt.
- Pressure cook for 40 minutes.
- Chop the remaining onion, green bell pepper, spring onions, and tomato.
- Make cuts through the port rings without chopping them into pieces.
- Put the pork in a cooking pot, add some water and salt, and cook on low heat for 40 minutes.
- Fry the boiled pork and chorizo until golden brown on all sides.
- Check on the beans at this point. Take out the carrot, the spring onion, bell pepper and the plantain and blend them. Add the blended mixture into the pot of beans and mix. This is to thicken the beans and is called frijoles. Set the cooked beans aside.
To Make the Sauce(Ogao)
- Put some oil in a saucepan on low heat. Add the chopped onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add one tablespoon of garlic paste, the spring onions, and the chopped tomato and stir. Allow the sauce to cook until the tomato juices are released.
- Add the spices and the ground beef. Stir and allow it to cook for 20 minutes.
- Also, bake the arepas for 3 minutes until cooked.
- In a different saucepan, fry the three eggs separately and set aside.
- Bandeja Paisa is now ready!
- Serve the Bandeja Paisa with slices of lime.
- Enjoy!
Note
Tips for preparing Bandeja Paisa
- Cook the beans for an additional 20 to 30 minutes if you’re using a gas cooker.
- Always soak the beans overnight to soften them. If you forgot, you might want to cook them for longer.
- Increase the ingredients if you’re cooking or serving more people.
- You can choose not to blend the plantain but serve it alongside the bandeja paisa.
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Bandeja paisa is a healthy dish you can enjoy with family, friends, and neighbors who may be curious about Colombian culture. Ensure to follow the process and don’t be afraid to serve the varieties in a generous amount on a single plate.
Enjoy your meal!
