About this Dish
Colombia's most famous dish — a massive platter from the Paisa region containing red beans, white rice, minced beef, chicharron (fried pork belly), fried egg, sweet plantain, avocado, arepa and morcilla sausage. A meal of legendary excess, reflecting the hearty appetite of the Antioquia region. Finishing a bandeja paisa is considered an achievement.
IngredientsServes 2
🫘Dried red kidney beans, 400g soaked overnight
🥩Minced beef, 300g
🐷Pork belly, 400g cut into thick strips
🍚White long-grain rice, 300g
🍌Ripe plantains, 2 sliced diagonally
🧅White onion, 1 large finely chopped
🍅Ripe tomatoes, 3 finely chopped
🥚Eggs, 4 large
🥑Ripe avocados, 2 halved and sliced
🌽Pre-made white corn arepas, 4 small
Method
1
Drain the soaked beans and cover with fresh water in a large pot. Add half the onion, a pinch of salt, and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours until completely tender, then set aside in their cooking liquid.2
Make a hogao sauce by frying the remaining onion and tomatoes in a splash of oil over medium heat for 15 minutes until soft and jammy. Season with salt, cumin, and a little colour from sazón or turmeric. Stir half the hogao into the cooked beans and simmer together for another 15 minutes.3
Score the pork belly strips all over and season generously with salt. Fry in a dry heavy pan over medium-high heat for 25 to 30 minutes, turning regularly, until the skin is deeply golden and crackling — this is your chicharrón. Drain on paper towels.4
Fry the minced beef in a little oil with a pinch of cumin and salt until well browned, then stir in the remaining hogao and cook for 5 more minutes. Cook the rice separately in salted water using your usual method.5
Fry the plantain slices in a generous layer of oil over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and caramelised. Toast or warm the arepas in a dry pan until lightly golden on each side.6
Fry the eggs sunny-side up in a little oil, keeping the yolks runny. Now assemble your bandeja — use the largest plate you own and arrange a generous scoop of each component side by side: beans, rice, beef, chicharrón, egg, plantain, avocado, and arepa. Serve immediately and accept all compliments.User Reviews
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