Bandeja Paisa
We know, the ingredient list looks a little intimidating… but pulling together the various components of this dish is actually not all that difficult if you plan ahead, and you should have no problem finding most of the ingredients at your local Mexican market. “Paisa” refers to the Paisa region of Colombia, and “bandeja” means “platter,” as this dish is intended to be served on a platter, given its size. This incredible spread includes a little (i.e. a lot) of everything—crispy, fatty pork belly, hogao (a traditional Colombian condiment often served with beef—it’s similar to a delicately sweet tomato-onion jam), saucy red beans, beef, chorizo, cheesy arepas, caramelized plantains, and fried eggs. Just a few helpful tips for creating this immaculate Colombian feast: Be sure to buy ripe plantains; they should be mostly black, with just a few yellow spots, if any. If you can’t find asadero cheese, substitute queso blanco or even mozzarella instead. And finally, prepping the means, meats, hogao, and pork belly a day ahead (and reheating when ready to serve) might be your best strategy for tackling the meal.