- Bandeja paisa
Bandeja paisa, also known as bandeja de
arriero , bandeja montañera, or bandeja antioqueña, is a typicalColombia n dish. Originating from theAntioquia Department in northwestern Colombia, the dish's name derives from the region's inhabitant, referred to as "paisas". The fundamental characteristic of the dish is the wide range of local foods it contains. Fact|date=August 2008Origin
Bandeja Paisa is formed by the influence of other cultures that came to Colombia throughout the centuries. The strongest influences during the 17th and 18th centuries were those of the indigenous peoples that inhabited the region, as well as colonial Spaniards and African slaves. In the 19th century, there was an influx of French and British colonialists who brought their cuisine with them. While outside cultures had a strong influence on this dish, local ingredients are also important. Beans, corn, plantains and coffee form the basis for agriculture in this area. [(Spanish)http://www.historiacocina.com/paises/articulos/gastrocolombia.htm]
Composition
Typically, bandeja paisa includes grilled steak (either ground or whole), chicharrón (fried pork rind), red beans, rice,
chorizo , afried egg , and an arepa. It is usually accompanied by sweet fried plantains and a slice of avocado. Some versions include tomato or sauces like hogao, potato, or other ingredients.The Bandeja Paisa is not particularly heart-healthy, as it contains a high level of calories, carbohydrates and saturated fats. [(Spanish)http://www.populardelujo.com/libro_01/movilizacion_popular/proyectos/asterisco/revista_asterisco.htm] Bandeja Paisa contains between 1500 and 1800 calories - the total energy that should be ingested per day for people who are sedentary. Bandeja paisa is, however, nutritious if eaten in moderate portions. Beans and rice, when eaten together, form a complete protein, although the chorizo and chicharrondo contain a high level of saturated fats.National Importance
In 2005 the Colombian government planned to make bandeja paisa the
national dish , but with the name of bandeja montañera (mountain tray). A number of people opposed this designation, reasoning that only a small percentage of the Colombian population consumes it, it originates in a single region of Colombia (Antioquia) and so on. However, one suggested alternative, sancocho, is not a dish distinctively Colombian, as it is known and enjoyed in many other countries like Panama, Venezuela, Canary Islands, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Due to the widespread ubiquity of sancocho, often Colombianajiaco is instead indicated as the most indicative Colombian dish.Nonetheless, the commercial Colombian tourism industry has pushed ahead without official government sanction by blazening ads, menus, and brochure information with imagery of the bandeja paisa as the single most typical Colombian dish. [(Spanish) http://www.lapatria.com/Noticias/ver_noticia.aspx?CODNOT=22144&CODSEC=22]ee also
*
Colombian cuisine
*Paisa Region References
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