Bandeja Paisa

Colombia's national dish is the bandeja paisa. This plate was invented in Antioquia and the Coffee Region for workers who needed lots of protein and energy to work on farms, whether collecting coffee and plantains, preparing the land, working with animals, or carrying heavy loads.

The bandeja paisa contains rice, beans, ground beef, chorizo, chicharron (pork rinds), a fried egg, plantain, avocado, and arepa. It's usually served with lemonade, aguapanela (sugar cane drink), or natural fruit juices.

Bandeja paisa can be found just about everywhere in Colombia, but the best place to try it is where it was invented - in Antioquia and the Coffee Region.

To eat bandeja paisa, you need to prepare yourself. Make sure you have an empty stomach - and a strong one!

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