So what's to eat in Costa Rica? Costa Rica food is not like Mexican food. By the way, Costa Rica has Mexican food restaurants, Chinese food, McDonald's (yuck!), Indian, Argentinian, and other types of restaurants.
The most popular Costa Rica food is gallo pinto. Gallo pinto is simply rice and beans with various spices cooked in a special way. I love it! It is served with eggs for breakfast and compliments many lunch and dinner courses here.
Costa Rica has excellent sea food (go figure - ocean on both sides!) including many types of fish, shrimp, lobster, and even Octopus. Sodas are small restaurants providing the best Costa Rica food and prices in the country.
Many locals eat chicken cooked in various ways and this type of dish is sure to be included in Costa Rica food restaurants. Rice usually figures into the typical chicken dish too.
Every morning you will be delighted with Costa Rican coffee along with some of the best fruit you have ever tasted. Pineapple, watermelon, papaya, mango, banana, and strawberries begin each breakfast.
Costa Rica sauce is an integral part of many dishes here. It is really one of the most important components to making an authentic Costa Rica food dish. Get the wrong bottle and you are really buying worcestershire or soy sauce.
This is a poor alternative for an authentic Costa Rican dish. I suggest you buy Lizano Salsa (not Lizano Salsa Inglesa and not Lizano Chachina) for the right taste and aroma for gallo pinto and any other dish requiring Costa Rica sauce.
Isela Ruiz Salguero
Tres Rios, Costa Rica
Gallo Pinto Authentic Costa Rica food
Ingredients:
Olive Oil (1-2 teaspoons)
Red bell pepper (1/2 in small cubes)
Onion (1/2 onion diced finely)
Celery (1 small branch)
Cilantro (4 little pieces)
Beef Consommé (1 teaspoon of powder)
Lizano Salsa (3 teaspoons)
Butter (1 teaspoon)
Red or Black Beans (1 cup pre cooked)
White Rice (2 cups pre cooked)
Preparation -
Fry the red pepper, onion, cilantro and celery in vegetable oil.
Add beans (with a little bean juice) and cook until hot
Add rice and cook in until hot
Add consommé lizano sauce and finally butter.
Serve immediately or freeze in individual portions.
Sopa Negra (Black Bean Soup) Authentic Costa Rica food
Ingredients:
2 cups of soaked black beans
1 bunch of cilantro
1 clove of garlic
1 green bell pepper diced
1 onion diced
1/2 teaspoon of oregano
1 small celery rib
Preparation -
Cook the beans with the cilantro and oregano in enough water for beans to become tender.
Mash or blend beans completely.
Saute garlic clove, diced onion and bell pepper, then add beans.
Salt to taste carefully.
Add water to make a fairly thick soup. (not to watery)
Cook for just a few minutes.
Arroz con Leche (Rice pudding) Authentic Costa Rica food
Ingredients:
2 cups of rice
1 cup of raisins
1 stick of butter
8 1/2 cups of milk
4 1/2 cups of water
1 cup of powdered milk
2 cups of canned condensed milk
2 cups of canned evaporated milk
1 pinch of salt
Add cinnamon to taste
Preparation -
Add the rice, 1/2 portion of milk, butter, cinnamon, and salt to a pot and boil until rice is soft.
As milk is absorbed into mix add the balance of milk and stir until milk is absorbed and rice is tender.
Add powdered milk in water and include in recipe.
Finally, add condensed milk and then add raisins for about 5 minutes before removal from stove.
Arroz con Pollo (Chicken with Rice) Authentic Costa Rica food
Ingredients:
Precook whole chicken - add salt, garlic, oregano and 1 celery
2 lbs rice
1 precooked whole chicken (see above)
1 tomato
1 diced carrot
small bunch of cilantro
1 finely diced onion
1 sprig of parsley
1/2 red bell pepper finely diced
8oz can of chopped mushrooms
8oz can sweet peas (drain juice)
2 tablespoon Lizano sauce
1 small can of tomato paste
1 teaspoon annatto
2 bay leaves
salt, pepper, cumin, cooking oil to taste
Preparation -
Cook rice along with carrots and add chicken broth from precooked chicken with annatto.
Saute onions, add red bell pepper, parsley, and cilantro and all other spices, black pepper cumin, salt and finally the tomato paste.
Cook at low heat.
Remove skin and bone chicken, tearing meat into strips as desired.
When sauce is ready add chicken and cook for 3 minutes on low heat. Slowly add rice and stir frequently.
Final step is to add mushrooms and sweet peas. Cover and allow mixture to steam for at least 10 minutes.
