Hola and Welcome to My Colombian Recipes and International Flavors. I hope you enjoy your visit!
About me
My name is Erica and I am from Medellin, Colombia. I came to the United States in 2000 to visit family and in early 2001, I met a man who soon after became my husband. My English wasn’t so good then and he didn’t speak much Spanish, but we managed just fine. However, he does still occasionally make fun of my accent and my sometimes misuse use of the English language while referencing an “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy made fun of the way Ricky talked 
Anyway, I have been in this country ever since. We live in the northeastern United States with our family. I enjoy watching cooking shows, reading recipe books and I absolutely love to cook! I am not a professional chef however. My educational background is in Tourism and Hotel Management and Marketing.
Although Spanish is my first language, this site is written in English, so please excuse any grammatical errors…I do my best. The beautiful header photo is that of a coffee plant, one of Colombia’s prime exports.
About the site
This blog was created in February 2009 and was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook. I never saw Mamita cooking from a recipe. She made dinner from whatever ingredients she found in the kitchen. My hope is that people from other countries discover Colombian food and learn more about our culture and traditions. Cooking traditional Colombian food connects me to my culture and allows me to share my heritage with my American family.
My recipes are not limited to traditional Colombian food. I have many other recipes for dishes representing other countries that I enjoy cooking for my family and friends, which I will also share with you. The sources of most of my recipes are my family, friends and my own creations and experiments, but if I cook a dish from a magazine, cookbook or TV show, I will list the source. All of the pictures and writing are done by me. The webmaster of My Colombian Recipes is my husband, who doesn’t get a lot credit, but he handles all the technical stuff for the site.
Comments and e-mails
I appreciate all of your comments, feedback and e-mails. I read every single one of them! I am not always able to reply to them all but I will do my best to answer your questions as quickly as possible. Although I appreciate constructive criticism, rude comments will be deleted and not published. Remember, you can also subscribe to My Colombian Recipes by email or feed reader and never miss a post! Thank you for visiting.
Erica
camila
on May 18th, 2009
@ 6:03 PM:
hi! i was also born in colombia! my name is maria-camila and i lived in cali till i was 5 and now im 12 years old! well im glad ur talking abount colombia! im coco colombian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monia
on Jun 23rd, 2009
@ 12:16 PM:
Hi Erika… tu sitio esta super!!! Porque nunca cocinaste nada para mi??? Espero que cuando vengas a Colombia lo hagas!!! Gracias por compartir tus recetas. Tienes cositas faciles de hacer con niños??? yo no soy muy buena pero Alejandra seguira los pasos de su tia Erika. Te mando un abrazo, cuidate. TQM. Monica Gonzalez.
Erica
on Jun 23rd, 2009
@ 2:16 PM:
Hola Monica,
Muchas Gracias por visitar mi blog…..Te prometo que en la proxima visita a Colombia te hago una de mis recetas favoritas
Voy a publicar algunas recetas para que las hagas con Alejandra y me cuentas como te fue….
Un Abrazo.
Erica.
ANNY
on Jul 7th, 2009
@ 3:49 PM:
HOLA AMIGA. FELICITACIONES POR TU SITIO. CREO QUE LO NECESITARE MUCHO PUES ESTOY UN POCO ENCARTADA CON MI NUEVA LABOR DE AMA DE CASA PUES NO SE COCINAR MUCHO, ME DEFIENDO PERO ESTAS RECETAS ESTAN SUPER RICAS…..
TE DESEO LO MEJOR.
Natalia
on Jul 9th, 2009
@ 6:22 AM:
Hola amiga estoy muy feliz de leer todas tus recetas…Alex ya a puesto en pracrica algunas de tus recetas y no le salen tan masl…amiga te pido un favor si tienes la receta de torta negra publicala estoy loca por comerla y no tengo ni idea de cuales con los ongredientes..
Bueno amiga te felicito y te envio un abrazote desde madrid.
Erica
on Jul 9th, 2009
@ 7:46 AM:
Gracias Natty…Mi mamá tiene la mejor receta para la torta negra, pronto la publico.
Erica
on Jul 9th, 2009
@ 8:48 AM:
Gracias Anny….
juliana
on Jul 20th, 2009
@ 9:20 AM:
Hola Erica, felicitaciones en tu web.Me encontre con Ana ayer y me conto. Todo se ve muy rico, pronto comenzare a usarlas.
Erica
on Jul 20th, 2009
@ 9:32 AM:
Gracias Juliana!
Cindy
on Aug 1st, 2009
@ 3:38 PM:
Hola!
My husband and I adopted our beautiful children, as infants, from Bucaramanga and Cali; they are now 20 and 17 years old. I am excited about finding your website and am anxious to try the recipes; they bring back memories of the delicious meals we ate while in Colombia! Gracias!
Erica
on Aug 1st, 2009
@ 4:51 PM:
Hi Cindy,
Thank you for visiting my blog and for the nice comment!
heidileon
on Aug 7th, 2009
@ 11:58 PM:
hola Erica,
Solo quiero decirte: muchas felicidades por tu blog, es el primero que encuentro sobre cocina Colombiana de la cual no se mucho (si, lo se, que pena). Sigue adelante, las recetas se ven muy muy autenticas.
Dorita
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 12:33 PM:
Felicitaciones, que pagina tan buena…. me encanta !!! la encontre por casualidad… y aqui me quedo !! jeje
Erica
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 7:18 PM:
Gracias Dorita,
Rico que te guste el blog!!!
Maria
on Sep 6th, 2009
@ 9:20 PM:
Todas las recetas estan para lamberse los dedos. que rico ser Colombiano. y disfrutar de tanta variedad,
Erica
on Sep 7th, 2009
@ 8:28 AM:
Hola Maria
Muchas Gracias por tu lindo mensaje!
Kay Little
on Sep 11th, 2009
@ 3:58 PM:
I am so excited to find your blog…I lived in Columbia when I was a little girl and I enjoyed eating the food so much… We had a lady come in an cooked for us every day. Blessings, Kay
jackie
on Sep 22nd, 2009
@ 2:26 PM:
rcastellanos@keiseruniversity(dot)edu
this is our professor’s e-mail, he has a family member in the hospital with a Almost heart attack. Instead of the usual sorry hope your relative gets better I thought it would be a lot nicer if I could locate some Heart Healthy receipes from the columbian culture for him to pass on to his family member.
Erica
on Sep 29th, 2009
@ 4:37 PM:
Hi Kay,
Thank you very much for your nice comment!
Anna
on Oct 2nd, 2009
@ 3:48 AM:
I am so happy to have found this site!! I lived in Santander for a year and fell in love with all things Colombian… one of the things I miss the most is the food…. I look forward to preparing many of your recipes!!!
Erica
on Oct 2nd, 2009
@ 7:37 AM:
Hi Anna, Thank you so much for the lovely comment!
viviana
on Oct 2nd, 2009
@ 7:01 PM:
Thank’s Erica for putting together this little piece of our culture.
Me encanta la sencillez de tu estilo literario.
Great recipes!
Erica
on Oct 2nd, 2009
@ 7:09 PM:
Hi Viviana,
Thank you very much for your comment! I am glad you like my Colombian recipes
Odalis Moise
on Oct 6th, 2009
@ 8:10 PM:
Hello Erica!
I think we share the same passion for food and cultures. I want to congratulate you on a fabulous job in introducing your readers to your country through the palate. I have been enjoying all your recipes and believe me I will try them because I love to cook. It is my dream to visit Colombia one day, but for now I comfort myself with videos on the internet and yes, off course, the great “novelas”. I have friends from Colombia and I have always being interested in the culture, as well as its music. Well Erica, keep up the great work. Best of luck and may God bless you.
Odalis
Erica
on Oct 6th, 2009
@ 8:29 PM:
Odalis,
Thank you so much, I truly appreciate your comments
Baking is my Zen
on Oct 10th, 2009
@ 8:38 AM:
It’s nice to see who does all that fabulous cooking! My sister-inlaw is from Colombia and her family are great cooks. So, when I see your posts I can relate to many of them. Thank you for sharing your ethnic cuisine. It’s fantastic. Nice picture of Mamita too. Great blog!
Smiles,
Carmen of Baking is my Zen
Erica
on Oct 10th, 2009
@ 9:25 AM:
Thank you Carmen!
Jason
on Oct 10th, 2009
@ 11:04 AM:
Hi Erica,
THanks for publishing these wonderful recipes..Stumbled upon your site looking for avena fria recipes as my boyfriend loves it..He is from Colombia and is very proud of his country and food.He however cant cook..I am the cook and enjoy it.Have no clue really about how to make colombian food although I tried ajiaco one time and got good reviews from him and his family..I just finished making the avena fria and the lentil soup recipe..tastes soooooo yummmy..thank you erica…buen parecho…i think the spelling is wrong but you got the drift..
love jason
Erica
on Oct 10th, 2009
@ 12:52 PM:
Hi Jason,
Thank you so much for your comment and your feedback!
eric west
on Oct 18th, 2009
@ 12:02 PM:
Hello,i am doing research for afro columbians and came across your site.Can you help me further,any recipes or cook books you suggest?I hope to travel their in the future for the experience.Thanks and God Bless.
Jorge
on Oct 21st, 2009
@ 7:07 PM:
Hi Erica, can’t tell you how delighted I am to find your site. I too am from Colombia and I also enjoy cooking not only our “platos Tipicos” but also recipes from all over the world. You made me remember dishes I have not thought about in years and I will be preparing them soon. MIL y MIL Gracias for sharing your knowledge and for your desire to promote our culture….and of course it took a “Paisa” to make it happen…
No soy Paisa pero si admiro y respesto el espiritu emprendedor de los Antioquenos !
Erica
on Oct 21st, 2009
@ 8:00 PM:
Hi Jorge,
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!
Bea
on Oct 27th, 2009
@ 10:14 PM:
Erica,
Qué emoción me dio encontrar tu sitio. Great job!
Nací en Cali, pero vivo en Chicago.
Erica
on Oct 28th, 2009
@ 8:40 AM:
Bea,
Gracias por tu mensaje tan lindo. Me alegra que te guste la pagina
Diana
on Nov 1st, 2009
@ 12:43 AM:
Erica, I just love your site and everything that you share about your culture and country! Your families recipes are amazing!
Mistli78
on Nov 1st, 2009
@ 2:37 PM:
Erica,
Thank you so much for sharing your story & all your great recipes. I love opening your emails everyday, reading the recipes & the little stories that go along with them. I love that you are sharing your culture with us and helping us to learn about Colombia. My grandmother was from Venezuela so alot of your recipes & stories bring back memories to me also. I’m so glad that I found your site and I hope you continue it for a long time!!
Con Mucho Carino,
Mistli
Felisha
on Nov 1st, 2009
@ 5:11 PM:
I really appreciate you taking the time to post your recipes. I love how you have a picture to go along with every single recipe you post. Me and my colombian husband (and daughter) enjoy the food I make from your recipes. I am on Facebook as one of your fans. Stop by sometime
Gracias por todas las recetas!
Erica
on Nov 1st, 2009
@ 5:35 PM:
Thank you guys for the wonderful comments!
Erica
on Nov 1st, 2009
@ 5:46 PM:
@Mistli, Diana and Felisha,
Thank you so much for the lovely comments! I really appreciate it
Joan Nova
on Nov 2nd, 2009
@ 5:35 PM:
You’re doing a great job Erica. It’s had to believe English is a second language for you (and a fairly new one at that). I really enjoy your blog.
Soma
on Nov 2nd, 2009
@ 9:58 PM:
Dear Erica
what a pretty lady you are! For someone who did not know much english you do a fabulous job.. I don’t think anyone reading your blog could say that you did not grow up knowing the language all thru out. I love Ricki’s accent!! & it happens to be our favorite thing to watch. thanks for sharing your sweet love story!
same is with my blog.. my hubby takes care of all the tech. stuff.. I just cook & write.
your recipes rock Erica. I had no clue about colombian recipes. it is who I learned it all from. so keep it coming with your Mamita’s inspiration;-)
Erica
on Nov 3rd, 2009
@ 6:54 AM:
@Joan and Soma,
Thank you very much for the wonderful comments! I love your blogs too
Christina
on Nov 13th, 2009
@ 11:43 AM:
Erica,
I love the recipes. They are so close to my Aubuela’s. I have only been able to make a handful of Colombian foods, but your site filled with these great recipes will help me to make more, and even make my Aubuela proud.
Thank you!
I ‘d like to share a site with you that my Tio Fabio created to help children in Colombia affected by poverty. He is just getting started, but I know that this cause is close to your heart, and maybe you can help spread the word. It is called POR LA SONRISA DE UN NIÑO! /FOR THE SMILE OF A CHILD!
The web address is: fabioamari.webs
Erica
on Nov 13th, 2009
@ 12:08 PM:
Christina- thank you so much for the comment and for the link!
Rachel Kay
on Nov 30th, 2009
@ 5:13 PM:
Erica,
My daughters boyfriend is in the Marines and stationed in Hawaii and misses Bandeja Paisa most of all. I am trying to find a way to have it shipped to him for christmas. Do you know of anyway? Please let me know.
Rachel Kay
on Nov 30th, 2009
@ 5:16 PM:
he just returned from Afghanistan in October. So it has been hard and I wquld like to make it special for him. Thank you
Erica
on Nov 30th, 2009
@ 8:26 PM:
Hi Rachel,
I don’t know any Colombian restaurants in Hawaii, but maybe one of my readers can help you. I am going to check online and let you know
Ana
on Dec 11th, 2009
@ 10:52 AM:
Hola Erica, Que chevere que esta tu pagina, no habia podido leerla con mas tiempo, pero hoy me sorprendo ver la cantidad de recetas que ya tienes.
Voy a empezar a imprimir algunas para ver si me quedan tan ricas como se ven las tuyas un abrazo Ana.
Adrianna
on Dec 13th, 2009
@ 2:36 PM:
Aloha Erica! I’m so happy I found your recipe site. I live in Hawaii and it is very difficult to find tasty and authentic Latin food. So – I make my own. I’m Colombian but came to the US when I was very young. Last night I made chicharrones using the recipe on your site – it was a big hit with my family! I can’t wait to try more of your recipes. Thank you. It brings back good childhood memories.
claudia
on Dec 13th, 2009
@ 3:45 PM:
HOLA ERIKA, FELICITACIONES A TI Y A TU ESPOSO POR EL BLOG QUE HAN CREADO… MAGINFICO…ES UNA GRAN AYUDA PARA PERSONAS COMO YO QUE NOS ENCONTRAMOS TAN LEJOS…. Y QUEREMOS PREPARAR ALGO QUE NOS ACERQUE A NUESTA TIERRA…!!! SOBRE TODO EN ESTA EPOCA NAVIDENA. CUANDO ESCRIBES LOS INGREDIENTES Y SUS CANTIDADES POR EJE: 1 “CUP” ME GUSTARIA SABER LA MEDIDA EXACTA EN GRAMOS PORQUE ACA EN ITALIA DONDE YO VIVO NO EXISTE CUP NI LIBRAS SINO KILO O GRAMOS OK . TE AGRADEZCO DE CORAZON SI ME PUEDES AYUDAR. PREPARARE LA NATILLA Y TE DIER COMO ME QUEDO. GRACIAS MIL.
Erica
on Dec 15th, 2009
@ 10:23 AM:
Adriana and Clandia,
Thank you so much for the wonderful comments!
Liz
on Dec 17th, 2009
@ 3:37 PM:
Hola Erica,
I was also born in Medellin, Colombia and I came to the United States when I was 3 yrs old and now I am 32 yrs old. Finding your site has made me so happy and has inspired me to try these recipes just like your grandmother my mother never ever used or uses a recipe to cook from. All her delicious meals are in her head and I have tried to learn but the only thing I have really tried to make are her empanadas which came out pretty good. Anyway I just wanted to say muchas muchas gracias for creating this site, sending you a huge hug.
Erica
on Dec 17th, 2009
@ 4:30 PM:
Liz- Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
Nats
on Dec 18th, 2009
@ 9:30 AM:
Yo tambien soy una Paisa en los Estados Unidos =)
Milena
on Dec 20th, 2009
@ 10:15 PM:
Hola Erika me encanta tu blog te felicito por el buen trabajo que haces y el esfuerzo que pones en este proyecto. Yo soy de villavicencio -meta y vivo en estados desde el 99 me case con un americano tambien y tengo dos ninos. Definitivamente una exelente idea lo del blog muchas cosas super ricas que me hacen acordar de nuestra tierrita. Gracias.
Erica
on Dec 21st, 2009
@ 7:59 AM:
Milena- Gracias por to comentario!
Gloria Chizmar
on Dec 23rd, 2009
@ 1:53 PM:
Hola Erica,
Me encanta tu pagina. I was surfing the web for Hojuelas recipe and i found this page. I’m also from Medellin living in USA. I have been here for almost 20 yr. Hard to believe. Love..love your recipes, They bring me great memories. I can’t wait to make the perros calientes!! sorry for the spanglish!
Feliz Navidad y prospero año!!
Paula
on Dec 26th, 2009
@ 11:02 PM:
Felicitaciones, por tu pagina soy de Cali y vivo en California hace 12 anos tambien casada con un americano que no habla espanol y como tu esposo goza con mi acento. En fin estaba buscando receta para la torta negra ya que tengo un antojo. Felices fiestas para ti y tu familia.
Stephanie
on Jan 15th, 2010
@ 3:57 PM:
Hello Erica,
I would like to thank you for all of your recipes. I am a Chicana in Phoenix enamored with a Columbiano. He talks about the comfort food back home,so I went in search for recipes thinking, “Shoot I can cook ANYTHING!” Uh-oh, I don’t recognize some of the ingredients, so thank you for the links. He has a big sweet tooth and I made the Traditional Flan. Score! I am going to try the Pollo Suado this weekend. What is the difference between sazon Goya azafran and the con culantro y achiote? Can I subsitute? I purchased the sazon Goya con culantro y achiote and love the color, but can’t yet put my finger on the flavor. I just know I love it!
Thanks again, Stephanie
Erica
on Jan 15th, 2010
@ 6:11 PM:
Stephanie- Thank you for the comment! I like sazon Goya with azafran, because I love The color. You can use your favorite Goya seasoning.
Spencer
on Jan 16th, 2010
@ 11:51 PM:
I am so excited that I found this site. I served a religious mission in Colombia (1998-2000)and loved every second of it. I was up on the cost (Cartegena, Barranquilla, Monteria, and Santa Marta). I have missed the flavors of the food. I am excited to try your recipes. Can’t wait to make the perro caliente. I have not been able to find a good hot dog since I have been home. Thank you for your efforts in keeping this site going! I can’t wait to see what other recipes you have. Thanks for taking me down memory lane as I looked at the recipes and remembered eating them.
Erica
on Jan 17th, 2010
@ 8:38 AM:
Spencer- Thank you so much for the wonderful comment
mery anne
on Jan 19th, 2010
@ 3:01 PM:
Hello Erica
Dear Erica
Im glad to found ur site, its just amazing,,makes me feel so comfortable,
and After tried all this European food i had just realized that Our Food its the best food ever. 
Reminds me my home, im from Medellin too. Im living in England, im engaged with a Irish guy he is a professional cook, and just todavia i found a easy way to show him all the tasty food that we got, today i cooked antioque;os beans, he is delighted, thanks god in March we are going to visit Medellin and He is very excited about it! He loves latin Food! your site its amazing, makes me feel homesick
Erica
on Jan 19th, 2010
@ 3:46 PM:
Mary Anne- Thank you so much for your lovely comment! Glad you like the site
Patricia
on Jan 24th, 2010
@ 12:59 PM:
Hola, me encanta tu pagina. Muchas gracias por mostrar algo positivo de nuestro pais.Tus fotos son muy lindas, deberias de publicar un libro.
Erica
on Jan 24th, 2010
@ 1:00 PM:
Patricia- Muchas gracias por tu comentario y por visitar mi blog!
Margarita
on Feb 4th, 2010
@ 1:38 PM:
I love your website. I’m Colombian as well and lived in Miami, FL for most of my life. I recently moved with my husband to Albany, NY and unfortunately there is only one restaurant in the area that serves Colombian food. i have some recipes from my mother but your website has fine tuned my cooking. Gracias!
juani
on Feb 4th, 2010
@ 1:59 PM:
hola Erica,
no cocino mucho pero un dia me dio por probar tu receta de los perros calientes (con la salsa de pi~na) y me quedaron deliciosos.
estube buscando en tus recetas y no vi la de la Maria Luisa…haber cuando te animas a hacerla y ense~narnos al resto!
Muchas gracias por compartir tus recetas.
Erica
on Feb 6th, 2010
@ 2:12 PM:
Margarita- Thank you so much for your comment!
Erica
on Feb 6th, 2010
@ 2:14 PM:
Juani- Gracias por tu comentario. Voy a publicar la receta de Maria Luisa pronto!
Diana Manis
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 12:56 PM:
Erica: I just happened to find your website on Google and I love it!!! Thank you so much for sharing all these wonderful Colombian recipes with us. Of course I’m Colombian too and I live in Florida. My husband and all his friends are wonderful cooks. They keep asking me when I’m going to cook for them a good Colombian meal. And of course I’m a young Colombian who didn’t do that much cooking back home LOL. This is the only site I’ve found with the exact and perfect explanations and recipes on how to cook Colombian way. Thanks a bunch and Dios te bendiga y que sigas cosechando éxitos. Good job!!!!
Diana Manis.
Erica
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 1:13 PM:
Diana- Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!!! Makes me really happy to know that people like you are enjoying the site
Savilac
on Feb 22nd, 2010
@ 4:06 PM:
Erika:
Todo se ve delicioso, que idea tan increible de poner todas estas recetas aqui, me voy directo a la cocina a ver que preparo de estas recetas.
Buena Suerte.
S Avila
Will
on Feb 22nd, 2010
@ 4:19 PM:
Everything (except the fish, personal dislike to all fishy things) looks absolutely delicious. I was born in Bogota and moved to US @ 4yrs old. My mom still cooks many typical dishes and she will surely enjoy your website. I love platano frito and patacon, the Paisa dish is great if one is not busy the rest of the day.
Keep up the good work.
WF
Tewksbury, MA
Tina
on Feb 23rd, 2010
@ 9:23 AM:
My boyfriend is from Colombia, I had the opportunity to visit Colombia for a month, but still did not learn how to cook. I am a bad cook, but I want to learn how to cook Colombian food for him. He is a cook, so I want to be able to cook his favourite foods as good as he does to surprise him.
Erica
on Feb 23rd, 2010
@ 10:05 AM:
Thank you everyone for the comments!
Adam
on Feb 26th, 2010
@ 12:51 PM:
Hi Erica,
I have my own site (blog) about Colombia where I try to teach foreigners that Colombia has *a lot* to offer in terms of natural beauty and friendly, warm people. I also have a links page so I will be adding your site there!
Abrazos
- Adam
Eyes On Colombia
Erica
on Feb 26th, 2010
@ 1:19 PM:
Adam- Thank you so much! I will check your site
Maria Teresa
on Feb 26th, 2010
@ 3:13 PM:
Hola Erica,
Que Chevere me siento muy orgullosa de ti, personas como tu engrandecen el nombre de nuestro pais, apesar de nuestros problemas, pero bueno para adelante.
Erica son de Cali y me encantaria saber como preparar la avena, como la hacian nuestras abuelas.
Gracias
Erica
on Feb 26th, 2010
@ 3:44 PM:
Maria Teresa- La receta de avena esta en la lista de recetas.
Inlovewithacolombian
on Mar 1st, 2010
@ 9:49 PM:
Hi Erica!
Thank you so much for the wonderful colombian recipes. Whenever my Colombian boyfriend feels homesick we choose a recipe from your site. What initially led me to your site, was the two of us searching for an Arepas recipes. One of your recipes came closest to the Arepas that he ate. Thanks so much! Keep up the hard work!
Sandi
on Mar 4th, 2010
@ 10:04 AM:
Hi Erica,
Your roast chicken recipe looks great and I will be making it tomorrow. I will let you know how it comes out.
Have a great day,
Sandi