Colombian Recipes.... Paisa Tray (Bandeja Paisa)

Bandeja Paisa is probably the most popular Colombian dish, originally from the Andean region of the country where the people are called “Paisas” and the area where I was born and raised.
Bandeja paisa is something I’ve eaten all of my life and if I have to choose my last meal on this earth, this is the one. Tradionally, bandeja paisa includes beans, white rice, chicharrón, carne en polvo, chorizo, fried egg, ripe plantain, avocado and arepa, but you can substitute the powdered beef for grilled beef or pork. I usually make the beans and powdered beef the day before to make it easier.

Ingredients(4 Servings)

1. Recipe Paisa Pinto Beans (Frijoles Paisas)

1 Recipe white Rice (Arroz Blanco)

1 Recipe Powdered Beef (Carne en Polvo)

4 Fried Pork Belly (Chicharrones)

4 Cooked Chorizos4 Fried eggs sunny side up

4 baked Plantains without the cheese and guava paste or Tajadas de Plátano

1 Recipe HogaoLime and Avocado for Serving

Preparation

1. Prepare the beans, hogao and powdered beef one day ahead and keep in the refrigerator.
2. When you are going to serve the bandeja paisa, heat the beans and powdered beef and hogao. Make the chicharrones.
3. Cook the white rice and plantains.
4. Fry the eggs and chorizos.
5. To serve, place the rice in a tray or platter and place the rest of the ingredients as you like. I prefer the beans in a separate bowl, but you can ladle the beans next to the rice if you like.
6. Bring the hogao in a serving dish to the table, so people can place it on top of the beans if they like. Enjoy!