Most Famous Dishes in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a lot of flavory foods.

Costa Rica is the country that you can enjoy their flavory foods. Costa Rica cuisine is diverse and influenced by a mix of Spanish, African, and indigenous flavors. Costa Rican food is a mixture of influences from different parts of the world that have all come together. There are basic ingredients, like corn and beans, that have their roots in indigenous cultures. These are common ingredients you’ll find in many dishes across Latin America. There are also influences from the Spaniards who colonized the lands here and brought different cereals such as wheat, certain vegetables, and fruits, and, above all, cattle for milk, cheese, and meat production. Some traditional dishes are easier to find because they are a part of everyday meals, like Gallo Pinto and Casado.  

1. Gallo Pinto

Gallo Pinto is the main dish in Costa Rica.

Gallo Pinto is a breakfast dish made of rice and beans. Gallo Pinto also called a as national dishes of Costa Rica and Costa Rican are proud to eat it almost every day. The cuisine itself has roots in both Costa Rican and Nicaraguan culture and is typically referred to as just “pinto” by the locals. Gallo Pinto is widely thought to come from Costa Rica, which is true. Although there are variations of the famous dish in neighboring countries especially in Nicaragua. Other countries where this exists include El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. You even find a variation of it in the southern United States known as Carolina Peas and Rice. By far the best the dish’s main ingredients (rice and beans) are mixed and paired with other ingredients to give it some spice, like red bell peppers, cilantro, onions and most importantly Salsa Lizano. When the beans and rice are mixed, the create some coloring variations that make it look like the rice is speckled. This is how the dish got its name because Gallo Pinto means “spotted rooster.”

The Costa Rican People generally eat this for breakfast you may think this to be a little weird. Who eats rice and beans for breakfast? The answer is everyone. It is a normal meal to get you going in the morning. And locals will question the same thing to you, why do you eat only fruit or cereal in the mornings? Don’t be afraid to ask for this awesome meal whenever. Many restaurants will serve it all day long and it makes for a hefty meal whenever you eat it. In other words, you won’t be left in want.

2. Casado

Casado - Made with pork chops.

The Casado is probably the most traditional dish in Costa Rican cuisine. It is not a singular dish, but a dish made up of many foods. In fact, it could be thought that a Casado is a marriage of the foods that are served together, since marriage is the meaning of the word Casado.

 

If you order a Casado at a restaurant in Costa Rica, you can expect to be served a plate that contains the following: rice, beans, salad, tortillas, fried platano maduro, and meat (beef, pork, chicken, or fish).

 

The word Casado means married (or caught) in Costa Rica. Casado is what a family meal is expected to appear on any table or kitchen counter for lunch. There is no eternal commitment to the plate because it varies according to the tastes of each household. Some even prefer to add some snacks like tortilla chips to their lunch. It is made mostly of rice and beans, one or two slices of fried sweet plantains, vegetables, coleslaw, and an omelets. Usually it is complemented by steak, chicken, fish, or pork. There are also vegetarian variations with some fresh avocado, eggplant, or white cheese.

 

The Casado is a fundamental meal in the tico diet. Casado are relatively easy to make, cheap and filling. It became popular in the past because larger families without a lot of money could feed everyone with ingredients they usually already had in their houses.

3. Tamal

Costa Rican Tamal wrapped in a banana leaf.

A Costa Rican tamal is not apples to apples with a Mexican tamale. While at first glance the fillings might look the same, there are a few huge differences in the preparation.

 

First, Costa Ricans are found of garlic, but really go really, easy on other spices. Mexican tamales will have a much spicier flavor than a Costa Rican tamale. The wrapping can either be discarded prior to eating or used as a plate. Tamales can be filled with meats, cheese, fruits, vegetables, herbs, chilies, or any preparation according to taste, and both the filling and the cooking liquid may be seasoned.

 

The other big difference is in the wrapping: Mexican tamales are wrapped in corn husks; Costa Rican tamales are wrapped in banana leaves. Tamales can be a meal all on their own, but they are also often paired with beans and served for breakfast.