Colombia is a diverse country in every sense of the word, and the food in Colombia is no exception to this diversity. Like most things in Colombia, food is very regional—meaning, you will likely encounter very different “traditional” food as you travel to different regions of the country. Having lived almost two years on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia, I’ve come to discover some really amazing foods that any traveler should seek out in this region.

If you sit down at any neighborhood joint in Colombia for a bite, you will see small bowls filled with something that looks like a watery relish. This is ají, and it is delicious and not at all relishy. Ají is vinegary and salty and a bit spicy, and it is served with all manners of Colombian food, but especially with empanadas, papas rellenas and other fritanga, as it is a perfect complement to heavier fried foods. Along with hogao, the tomato and onion base used for much of Colombian food, ají is one of the defining sauces in Colombian cuisine.