Gallo Pinto
Often eaten: Commonly eaten at breakfast, often with eggs, tortillas, or sour cream
Known for: Central Valley
BreakfastFamily
Photo: Axxis10 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
4 dishes to discover
Food of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is famous for its delicious and diverse food! People enjoy meals made from fresh ingredients, often grown right in the country. Let's explore some tasty Costa Rican dishes and learn about how they're part of family life and culture.
Featured Dishes
Meal Culture
In Costa Rica, meals are a fun and important part of daily life. People often eat together with family and friends, and meals usually include rice, beans, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Sharing meals helps everyone feel connected and happy!
Eating Etiquette
Before meals, it's nice to wash your hands. At the table, everyone waits until everyone is served to start eating. Saying 'buen provecho' is a great way to wish others a good meal!
When People Eat It
Casado
Often eaten: Most often eaten at lunch as a full plate with rice, beans, salad, plantains, and a protein
Known for: Countrywide
LunchEveryday
Arroz con Leche
Often eaten: Usually served as a sweet dessert or afternoon treat
Known for: Countrywide
DessertFestive
Tamale
Often eaten: Special occasions
Known for: Countrywide
FestiveFamily
Make It Yourself
👩🍳 Cook together! Always ask a grown-up to help with hot or sharp steps.
Gallo PintoGallo Pinto
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 2 cups (370 g)Cooked rice
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g)Cooked black beans
- 1/2 onionOnion, chopped
- 1/2 pepperRed pepper, chopped
- 2 tbspSalsa Lizano (or Worcestershire)
- 2 tbspFresh cilantro
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to soften the onion and pepper in a little oil.
- 2Add the black beans with a splash of their cooking liquid.
- 3Stir in the salsa Lizano and let it bubble for a minute.
- 4Add the cooked rice and toss everything until evenly mixed and hot.
- 5Sprinkle with cilantro.
- 6Serve for breakfast with eggs — Costa Rica's 'spotted rooster'.
CasadoCasado
Makes 2 servingsIngredients
- 2 cups (370 g)Cooked rice
- 1 cup (200 g)Cooked black beans
- 2 piecesChicken or fish fillet
- 1 plantainSweet plantain, sliced
- 1 cupCabbage and tomato salad
- 1 limeLime
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to cook the chicken or fish until done.
- 2Fry the plantain slices until golden.
- 3Toss the cabbage and tomato with a squeeze of lime for a fresh salad.
- 4On each plate, place rice and beans side by side.
- 5Add the meat, plantain, and salad in their own spots.
- 6Serve it all together — a balanced Costa Rican 'married' plate.
Arroz con LecheArroz con Leche
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 1 1/2 cups (280 g)Cooked rice
- 3 cups (710 ml)Milk
- 1/2 cup (100 g)Sugar
- 1 stickCinnamon stick
- 1/4 cup (40 g)Raisins
How to Make It
- 1Put the rice, milk, and cinnamon stick in a pot.
- 2Ask a grown-up to simmer it gently, stirring often so it does not stick.
- 3Cook for about 20 minutes, until it turns thick and creamy.
- 4Stir in the sugar and raisins and cook 5 minutes more.
- 5Take out the cinnamon stick.
- 6Serve warm or cold with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
TamaleTamale
Makes 8 tamalesIngredients
- 3 cups (450 g)Corn masa (dough)
- 1 cup (150 g)Chicken or pork, cooked
- 1/2 cupCooked rice and peas
- 8 piecesBanana leaves or husks
- 1/2 cup (120 ml)Broth
How to Make It
- 1Mix the masa with a little warm broth until it is soft and spreadable.
- 2Spread a layer of masa onto each banana leaf.
- 3Add a spoonful of meat, rice, and peas in the middle.
- 4Fold the leaf into a neat parcel and tie it shut with string.
- 5Ask a grown-up to steam the parcels for about 1 hour.
- 6Unwrap carefully and eat — a Costa Rican Christmas favorite.
Vocabulary
Costa Rican food is similar to other Latin American foods with rice and beans, but it stands out for its fresh, local ingredients and the joy of eating together with family.