Bandeja Paisa (Colombian Platter)

Colombia''s national dish — a massive platter of beans, rice, meat, egg, plantain, and avocado.

Ingredients

• 1 cup red beans, cooked (or canned)
• 2 cups white rice, cooked
• 4 carne asada steaks (or flank steak)
• 4 oz chicharrón (fried pork belly)
• 4 slices morcilla (blood sausage, optional)
• 4 fried eggs
• 2 ripe plantains, sliced and fried
• 1 avocado, sliced
• Hogao: 2 tomatoes + 1 onion, cooked into a sauce
• Arepa (corn cake)

Method

1. Cook beans with hogao sauce (sautéed tomato and onion).

2. Grill or pan-sear the steak. Fry the chicharrón until crispy.

3. Fry plantain slices until golden. Fry eggs.

4. Assemble the platter: rice, beans, steak, chicharrón, egg, plantain, avocado, arepa.

What You're Practicing

• Bandeja paisa is not a recipe — it''s a composition. Each element is prepared separately and assembled on one massive plate.
• This is Colombia''s most iconic meal, traditionally eaten for lunch.