The World Needs To Know About Colombia's Bandeja Paisa

chicharrón

🥗Healthier: grilled chicken

💰Cheaper: pork belly

Grilled chicken provides leaner protein while pork belly is more affordable.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is lower in fat, while ground pork is often less expensive.

avocado

🥗Healthier: smashed peas

💰Cheaper: sliced cucumbers

Smashed peas provide creaminess with fewer calories, while cucumbers are budget-friendly.

arepas

🥗Healthier: quinoa cakes

💰Cheaper: polenta

Quinoa cakes are nutritious, while polenta is a cost-effective alternative.

Soak 1 pound of red kidney beans in 4 cups of water overnight.

In a sauce pot, cook 4 strips of chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 10 minutes.

Add 1/2 diced yellow onion and stir for a minute to soften.

Add 2/3 diced green bell pepper and 1 diced roma tomato, stir and soften.

Grate in 1 carrot and 2 cloves of garlic, stir for about 5 minutes.

Drain the soaked beans and add them to the pot, stirring well.

Add enough liquid to cover the beans, including 1/2 box of veggie broth and some frozen mushroom stock.

Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes until beans are soft.

Season with salt and Tony's Cajun seasoning to taste.

For chicharron, cure skin-on pork belly with equal parts salt and baking soda for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Cut pork belly into strips and score the skin without cutting through.

In a saucepan, cover pork belly with water and bring to a boil, then simmer until water evaporates, about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Once water evaporates, fry the pork belly until crispy, adding neutral oil if necessary.

For arepas, mix 320 grams of masarepa with 10 grams of kosher salt, 250 grams of grated mozzarella, 25 grams of softened butter, and 480 milliliters of warm water.

Knead the dough and form into patties.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary