What Makes Pacific Cuisine Unique?
Pacific cuisine stands out for its freshness, natural ingredients, and traditional preparation methods.
🔹 Key elements of Pacific cuisine:
✅ Fresh fish and seafood, such as red snapper and lobster.
✅ Coconut and plantains, essential ingredients in most dishes.
✅ Local herbs and spices, including cimarrón (wild basil), black basil, and annatto.
✅ Traditional cooking techniques, many of which originate from African heritage.
📢 Example: In Nuquí, many recipes are still cooked over an open fire, preserving the authenticity of their flavors.
Traditional Dishes of the Colombian Pacific and Their History
Here are some of the most iconic dishes from the region.
🍛 1. Encocado (Coconut Seafood Stew)
✅ One of the most representative dishes of the Pacific region.
✅ Made with coconut milk, spices, and fresh fish or shrimp.
✅ Originates from Afro-descendant communities who brought their cooking techniques to the coast.
📢 Tip: At Casa Balae, you can try an authentic encocado, prepared with fresh fish and freshly grated coconut.
🍛 2. Arroz Clavado with Piangua (Rice with Mangrove Clams)
✅ A rice dish made with piangua, a type of clam found in mangrove forests.
✅ Cooked with onions, garlic, annatto, and coconut milk.
✅ Traditionally prepared by women gatherers along the coast of Chocó.
📢 Example: Piangua is essential to Pacific cuisine, and its harvesting is an integral part of the region’s identity.
🍛 3. Tapao de Pescado (Fish Stew)
✅ A traditional dish made with whole fish, green plantains, and yuca.
✅ Cooked slowly in a clay pot, using natural spices.
✅ A communal meal, typically served at family gatherings and celebrations.
📢 Fun Fact: Tapao was a typical meal for fishermen, using ingredients easily available from both the sea and the jungle.
🍛 4. Aborrajado de Pescado (Fried Fish Fritters)
✅ Fish fillets coated in corn flour batter and deep-fried until crispy.
✅ Served with patacones (fried plantains) and a tomato-onion salad.
✅ A variation of sweet plantain aborrajados, found in other parts of Colombia.
📢 Tip: Perfect for those looking for a crispy, flavorful dish with a Pacific touch.
🍛 5. Seafood Casserole
✅ A mix of shrimp, prawns, squid, and mussels in a creamy coconut sauce.
✅ Served with coconut rice and fried plantains.
✅ A festive dish, usually prepared for special occasions.
📢 Example: In Nuquí, seafood casseroles are made with freshly caught seafood, giving them an unmatched flavor.
🍹 6. Traditional Beverages: Exotic Juices and Fermented Drinks
✅ Borojó Juice: A natural energizer, known for its revitalizing properties.
✅ Viche: An ancestral Afro-Colombian drink made from fermented sugarcane.
✅ Naidí (Açaí) Juice: Rich in antioxidants and traditionally consumed by local communities.
📢 Fact: Viche is considered part of the Pacific’s Afro-Colombian heritage, and its preparation follows ancestral techniques.
A Culinary Experience at Casa Balae
If you want to experience authentic Pacific cuisine, Casa Balae is the perfect place to do so.
🔹 Why try Pacific cuisine at Casa Balae?
✅ Fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
✅ Recipes prepared by traditional cooks from the region.
✅ A gastronomic experience in a natural and peaceful setting.
✅ Vegetarian and vegan options available using local ingredients.
📢 Tip: Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a meal with an ocean view, accompanied by the soothing sound of the waves.
✅ Pacific cuisine is a reflection of the region’s culture, history, and biodiversity.
✅ Dishes like encocado, seafood casserole, and arroz clavado are must-tries when visiting Nuquí.
✅ Casa Balae offers the best opportunity to enjoy these flavors in a paradise setting.
📢 Book now at Casa Balae and experience the best flavors of the Colombian Pacific. 🍛🌊
