Colombia’s cuisine is known for its iconic seafood dishes. When it comes to seafood, the Caribbean coast and the Pacific region of Colombia are true, idiosyncratic culinary treasures, offering a wealth of flavors and traditions. Thanks to the abundance of seas and rivers, seafood takes center stage in the cuisine of both regions, appreciated for its freshness and diversity.
Best seafood dishes from the Colombian Caribbean coast
Seafood Casserole
The seafood casserole is one of the most iconic dishes of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. This delicious stew includes a variety of seafood such as shrimp, crab, clams and fish, all simmered in a creamy coconut milk base. The seafood casserole is typically enjoyed for lunch or dinner, accompanied by coconut rice and patacones.
Coconut Rice with Shrimp
Coconut rice with shrimp is another emblematic dish of Caribbean Colombian cuisine. The main ingredients include rice, coconut milk, peeled shrimp, onion, garlic, bell pepper, cilantro, salt, pepper and spices to taste. To prepare it, start by heating the coconut milk with water. Once it reaches a boil, add the rice and a pinch of salt.
Reduce the heat, cover the pot, and cook until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid. In a separate pan, sauté the onion, garlic and bell pepper until tender. Then, add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and cook until they turn pink.
Finally, mix the shrimp with the coconut rice and serve the dish with patacones.
Fish Sancocho
Fish sancocho is a traditional soup that can be made with the fish of your choice. The typical ingredients include green plantain, yam, corn, yuca, potato, onion, garlic, bell pepper, tomato, cilantro and scallion.
Begin by making a sofrito in a large pot over medium heat with the onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Then add the tomatoes, corn, plantains, yuca and potatoes. Cook everything over medium-low heat until the ingredients are tender.
Finally, add the fish pieces, which can be pre-fried if desired, and let them cook until tender.
Fried tilapia
Fried mojarra is a traditional dish in Colombian cuisine, especially popular in the Caribbean region. It consists of a whole fish, usually mojarra, seasoned with salt and spices before being fried until crispy. It is typically served with coconut rice, fried plantains, salad, and a slice of lime, highlighting the fresh and tropical flavors of the coast.
The best seafood dishes from Colombia’s Pacific
The Colombian Pacific reflects the richness of its seas and rivers in its cuisine. Some of the best seafood dishes from this region are:
Fish Aborrajados
Aborrajados are a typical dish from the Pacific region of Colombia. In their original version, they consist of ripe plantain stuffed with cheese and guava paste, fried like a fritter. However, there is a variation in which fish fillet is used instead of cheese and guava paste. These fish aborrajados are usually eaten for breakfast or dinner, offering a unique combination of flavors.
Crab Empanadas
Crab empanadas are a delicious treat made with shredded crab meat. The meat is mixed with a sofrito of garlic, tomato, onion and bell pepper, seasoned with salt and pepper. The empanada dough, typically made from corn, encloses this savory filling before being fried to perfection.
Catfish Soup
Catfish soup from the Pacific coast of Colombia is a traditional dish that combines fresh fish with root vegetables like green plantain, yuca, potato and corn, all cooked in a flavorful broth made with a sofrito of onion, garlic, bell pepper and tomato.
It is seasoned with bay leaf, cilantro and cimarron, and served hot, accompanied by rice and patacones.
Fried Red Snapper
Fried snapper is a simple yet delicious dish. The fish must be completely clean and scale-free. It is seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and spices to taste, then fried in plenty of hot oil until golden and crispy. Traditionally, it is served alongside coconut rice, patacones, and salad, although some prefer it with yuca. This dish is commonly found in both regions of the country: on the Caribbean coast and in the Colombian Pacific.