The 9 most delicious dishes of Costa Rica

Rice and beans, beans and rice? From breakfast to dinner!

You may have heard this before about Costa Rica's cuisine, and in principle it's true. Rice and beans are the basis of many dishes in Costa Rica, but the traditional cuisine is far more varied and tasty than you might imagine from these statements.

Today we present you the 9 best dishes, which you can enjoy during your Stay should test. You can find these meals in all local restaurants, which are called sodas. We promise you that you have never eaten rice and beans like this before and you will be positively surprised by the Costa Rican way of cooking.

Gallo Pinto 

Gallo Pinto is considered the national dish of Costa Rica, and appropriately consists of rice and beans. You should really try this dish, because it is prepared very tasty. This typical dish consists of cooked rice and black beans, which are traditionally left over from the day before. These leftovers are sautéed and seasoned together with garlic and onions and this simple yet delicious dish is ready.

This hearty dish is traditionally eaten for breakfast. You can choose side dishes such as corn tortillas, eggs, avocado and plantains. The Lizano Salsa is crucial for the taste. This tasty sauce is considered essential in Costa Rica and is on every table of local sodas. Gallo Pinto may be a little different than your usual breakfast, but it makes an optimal base for your upcoming adventures.

Gallo Pinto means by the way spotted rooster, which comes from the fact that the beans color and stain the white rice during frying.

Casado

Arroz y frijoles (rice and beans), are also the basis of this dish. Casado is one of the best dishes of Costa Rica and is offered in numerous versions. Casado is also considered a national dish and you can expect a large plate on which rice and the cooked beans are served separately. Depending on your preference, you can choose to have vegetables or meat served with it. Chicken, pork or beef, but also fish are traditionally served with it. Meat and fish are even offered in different preparation methods for more variety. Whether stewed, fried or deep-fried, there is enough choice to select a different combination every day. Other side dishes include fresh salad, fried sweet plantains and tortillas.

By the way, the name "Casado" means "married man", which comes from the fact that in the past the dish was cooked daily by women for their husbands. 

The leftovers from the cooked rice and beans are actually used for the Gallo Pinto the next morning, which is a great way to stop food waste and gives the flavors more time to develop. 

Rice & Beans

And just when you thought that was it for rice and beans, Rice & Beans comes around the corner. What's exciting about this dish is that it really does taste very different from its two competitors, Gallo Pinto and Casado. That's because Rice & Beans comes from the Caribbean part of Costa Rica, where it is seasoned and prepared quite differently. Here, rice and beans are cooked together in coconut milk and enhanced with spices. The result is a sweet, exotic taste, in keeping with Caribbean Costa Rica. As with Casado, Rice & Beans is complemented by side dishes such as vegetables, lettuce, plantain and meat or fish.

So if your adventure takes you to the Caribbean, you should try this great dish. 

Olla de carne

For now, you have learned about the main dishes that include rice and beans. Even though olla de carne does not contain either of these ingredients, it is a traditional Costa Rican dish. "Olla de Carne" translates to "meat stew" and is therefore not suitable for vegetarians and vegans. You can expect a rich and hearty stew of beef cooked in a broth along with cassava, carrots, potatoes, corn, plantains and taro roots. If you want a break from rice and beans, try this dish. 

Arroz con...

Another dish with rice that you should know. This is fried rice, which is supplemented optionally with vegetables, meat and fish. In this simple dish, all the ingredients are fried in a pan and seasoned. It is served with side dishes similar to casado. Lettuce, plantain, tortillas and sometimes cooked beans are served along with the rice dish. The fried rice can also be found inexpensively on all menus of the local sodas.

Patacones

An absolute favorite dish of many travelers are patacones. These are fried unripe plantains. The plantain, which is served with the casado, is prepared from overripe plantains and provides a sweet taste. However, for patacones, very unripe green plantains are chosen, which are first boiled, then mashed, and then deep-fried. They are served with different dips, such as guacamole, red salsa or spicy bean sauce. The fried plantains are reminiscent of potatoes in taste, as they have not yet developed any sweetness due to their ripeness. Patacones are a perfect light lunch or are also suitable as an appetizer and side dish to other dishes.

Desserts

Arroz con leche

In addition to all these hearty main dishes, Costa Rica also has desserts on offer. Rice is also used here. The popular dessert Arroz con Leche is the Costa Rican version of rice pudding. Traditionally, the dish is refined with cloves and cinnamon and served warm. 

Flan

If after a main course with rice, but you do not want additional rice for dessert, then you should try Flan. This is a kind of vanilla pudding served in the form of a cake. This traditional dessert is usually served with a caramel sauce and coconut flakes and will satisfy your craving for something sweet.

Tres Leches

Translated as "three kinds of milk", a milk cake awaits you at Tres Leches. A moist sponge or butter cake is prepared, which is then soaked in three different types of cow's milk: Condensed milk, sweetened canned milk and whipped cream. This rich dessert is claimed by various sources to be the national dessert of Costa Rica.

Bonus Tip

There is probably no other beverage that enjoys so much prestige as Coffee. Costa Rica's cool highlands are the perfect place to grow this fruit, which is why Costa Rican Arabica coffee is popular around the world. Coffee has brought wealth to the country long ago and is very popularly consumed there. The multitude of coffee plantations are perfect for a visit to taste the aromatic coffee first hand. You probably won't get fresher coffee than here anywhere else. You absolutely should not miss it.

Appetite for more?

As you now know, there are many ways to get rice and beans served. Rice & Beans and Frijoles y Arroz are as much a part of Costa Rica as the beautiful beaches. Besides all these delicacies you can expect in Costa Rica many further adventures. If you are wondering how to make the most of your time in Costa Rica, feel free to read our Insider tips for the best activities in the country. To best prepare you for these adventures, we have prepared for you the ultimate packing list which will prepare you for all situations.  

For more travel inspiration, feel free to check us out at Instagram and Pinterest to make sure that in the future you don't have to Insider tips more to be missed.