5 Traditional Colombian Dishes You Must Try in South Florida
Colombian food is very diverse, each region of the country having its own characteristic dishes.
A wonderful cuisine which offers dishes that have been handed down since generations, influenced by not only indigenous Colombian culture, but Spanish, African and Arab cultures as well. A versatile, rich, and flavorful cuisine, which is now readily available for foodies in South Florida, from Pembroke Pines and Coral Springs, to Sawgrass and Boca Raton!
So we made a list of the top 5 Traditional Colombian Dishes You Must Try in South Florida, so the next time you’re in Palm Beach or Broward County and find yourself craving Colombian food, we found the perfect little nook to try these amazing dishes as well: El Balcón de las Américas. A family restaurant that has been committed to bringing the flavors of Colombia to the United States, sharing amazing food and great service in all of their six locations: Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Sawgrass, Margate, Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach.
This is not a comprehensive list of course, since all of their Colombian food is amazing and delicious in its own right, but it’s a list of some of the most representative dishes from Colombia.
1.- Bandeja Paisa: You cannot miss the Bandeja Paisa when you visit a Colombian food restaurant in South Florida, and El Balcon is definitely the best. Considered one of the best Colombian dishes, its main characteristic is the generous amount and variety of food; the “Paisa” platter combines white rice, red beans, ground beef or top round steak, sweet plantains, fried “chicharrón” (pork belly), ‘arepa’, avocado, a fried egg, and Colombian sausage.
2.- Pargo Frito: The delicious and super popular whole deep-fried red snapper, as usual served with white rice, fried green plantains and salad. A very representative fish of the Colombian caribbean, in Colombia it is deep fried whole and served as is. At El Balcón this dish is succulent, and you can find it in all of their six locations throughout South Florida. A must try!
3.- Agua Panela: A very traditional and delicious drink in all of Colombia, you can find it at El Balcón de las Américas with a super refreshing twist, iced and with lemon. Its literal translation means “panela water” and it is an infusion made from panela which is derived from hardened sugar cane juice. A must try in this Colombian restaurant!
4.- Sancocho: Sancocho is a traditional food in Colombia made with many kinds of meat (most commonly chicken, hen, pork ribs, cow ribs, fish, or ox tail) with large pieces of plantains, potatoes or cassava and/or other vegetables such as tomato, scallion, cilantro, and mazorca (corn on the cob), depending on the region. At El Balcón de las Américas Sancocho is a weekend tradition, and it’s only available on those days, with variations made with hen, ox tail, and pork ribs. Absolutely delicious for the weekend!
