The typical food of Cartagena, Colombia, includes dishes such as coconut rice, fried fish, and desserts such as coconut foot. In this gastronomy, Spanish, indigenous and African influences are appreciated.
Cartagena de Indias is a Colombian city located in the north of the country, on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. It is the capital of the department of Bolívar.
Due to its status as a coastal city, dishes made with fish and seafood are very common.
The mixture between indigenous ingredients, Spanish recipes adapted to the new continent and African contributions, have formed one of the most varied gastronomies in Colombia.
To this must be added the ease of getting fish and seafood, which are the basis for many dishes in the city.
You may also be interested in the typical dishes of Colombia.
The 5 main typical dishes of Cartagena
one-
This dish is one of the most popular in Cartagena and, by extension, of the entire Colombian Caribbean coast.
It is a meal that requires very few ingredients and is usually served to accompany fried fish or some types of seafood.
To prepare it, you only need coconut milk plus its pulp, sugar, salt and rice. There are two different varieties: the white coconut and the one made with black coconut.
It is accompanied by patacones or panela is added, depending on the tastes and the occasion.
two-
Due to its status as a coastal city and the fishing tradition of its inhabitants, fried fish is one of the most typical recipes in Cartagena.
Various types of fish are used, such as mojarra, tilapia and red snapper, which is one of the most traditional.
Its preparation is very simple, since it does not present too many steps. First you have to rub the fish, already clean, with a mixture of green onion and lemon juice.
Let it rest for a few minutes, and then it only remains to flour it and fry it in hot oil. It is usually served with patacones and salad.
3- Fish stew
Sancocho is a dish that is made throughout Colombia with different ingredients, depending on the region.
It has its origin in a recipe carried out by the Spanish, who traditionally prepared it with various meats. In Cartagena the main ingredient is fish.
It is a very nutritious and complete meal. It is usually prepared with bocachico fish, and it also includes potatoes, yucca, tomato, banana and other vegetables and legumes.
4- Cheese mote
Despite the fact that its origin seems to be in the territories inhabited by the Zenúes, the mote de queso has become the most typical soup in Cartagena.
In the recipe that is made in this city there are small differences with the one that is made in other parts of the Caribbean region.
The base of this meal is yam, a plant similar to the sweet potato. Hard coastal cheese, coconut juice or atoyabuey serum are also essential. Finally, you just have to add lemon, onion and garlic.
5- coconut foot
Desserts are also very important in the gastronomy of Cartagena. One of the most traditional is the coconut foot. It can be found in restaurants, houses and in many street stalls.
The normal thing in the city is to cook the coconut using its own water, to which sugar is added.
After it has caramelized a bit, egg yolk and condensed milk are added to it. The last step is to bake the mixture until it is crisp and golden.
References
- Tourist guides of Colombia. Gastronomy of Cartagena. Obtained from guiatodo.com.co
- Sasson, Harry. A heroic dessert. (October 17, 2009). Obtained from elespectador.com
- Cartagena Connetions. Cartagena Food: Top Local Dishes to Try. Retrieved from cartagenaconnections.com
- Food and Wine. Cartagena in 10 Plates. Retrieved from foodandwine.com
- Collins, Beth. The Best Food in Cartagena: A Dish-by-Dish Tour. Retrieved from frommers.com