Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

Costa Rica

Ask what Costa Rica eats and the answer starts with this: fresh, mild ‘pura vida’ fare of gallo pinto, casado lunch plates, and Caribbean coconut rondón. Look for Gallo pinto (rice and black beans with Lizano sauce; the daily start), Casado (lunch plate of rice, beans, plantain, salad, and a protein) and Olla de carne (beef and root-vegetable soup simmered all day). Rice and beans fried together and seasoned with Salsa Lizano; Costa Rica and Nicaragua dispute its origin and both treat it as breakfast. This atlas has 38 Costa Rica dishes catalogued below, from everyday cooking to food kept for festivals and special occasions.

38 dishes.

Agua de sapoAgua de sapoCold drink of tapa dulce, fresh ginger and lime juiceAgua dulceAgua dulceHot drink of dissolved raw cane sugarArregladosArregladosSmall soft rolls split and filled with shredded beef, cheese or beansArroz con lecheArroz con lecheCreamy cinnamon rice puddingArroz con polloArroz con polloCelebration rice with shredded chicken and vegetablesCafé chorreadoCafé chorreadoCoffee drip-brewed through a cloth chorreadorCasadoCasadoLunch plate of rice, beans, plantain, salad, and a proteinCevicheCevicheSea bass cured in lime with coriander and onionChicha de maízChicha de maízFermented maize drink served in gourds at Guanacaste fiestasChifrijoChifrijoBar bowl of rice, beans, chicharrón, pico de galloChileraChileraJar of carrot, onion, cauliflower and chile in vinegar, on every tableChiliguaroChiliguaroShot of guaro with tomato juice, lime and hot sauceChorreadasChorreadasFresh corn pancakes griddled and topped with natilla or cheeseEmpanadas de chiverreEmpanadas de chiverrePastry turnovers filled with stringy candied fig-leaf gourd jamFresco de casFresco de casSour tropical guava blended with water and sugar, served in a jugGallo pintoGallo pintoRice and black beans with Lizano sauce; the daily startGallosGallosWarm tortilla folded around a single filling and eaten in the handGuaroGuaroClear sugarcane spirit drunk in shots with lime and saltGuaro sourGuaro sourCane guaro shaken with lime juice and sugar, served over iceImperialImperialPale lager with a black eagle label, drunk cold everywhereNatillaNatillaPourable sour cream spooned over rice, beans and tortillasOlla de carneOlla de carneBeef and root-vegetable soup simmered all dayPan bonPan bonSweet spiced bun topped with cheese and fruit, from the Caribbean coastPataconesPataconesTwice-fried green plantain discs with salt, cheese or hogaoPatíPatíSpiced beef pastry from Caribbean Limón provincePicadilloPicadilloMinced vegetable-and-meat hash scooped up with tortillasPrestiñosPrestiñosThin fried dough sheets folded and drenched in panela syrupQueso palmitoQueso palmitoMild string cheese wound into a ball and pulled apart in strandsQueso TurrialbaQueso TurrialbaFresh white cow's cheese, mild and springy, eaten with tortillasResbaladeraResbaladeraCreamy cold drink of rice and barley with cinnamon and milkRondónRondónLimón coconut stew of fish and ground provisionsSalsa LizanoSalsa LizanoThin tangy brown sauce splashed on gallo pinto and casadosSopa negraSopa negraBlack bean soup with a soft-poached eggTamalTamalChristmas pork tamales steamed in banana leavesTamal asadoTamal asadoBaked sweet corn cake with cheese and cream, cut in squaresTarrazú coffeeTarrazú coffeeBright high-altitude arabica from the Los Santos mountains

  • Natilla

    Pourable sour cream spooned over rice, beans and tortillas. 10 min to prepare. Makes about 600 ml. A cheese &…

  • Guaro sour

    Cane guaro shaken with lime juice and sugar, served over ice. Ready in 5 min prep and None cooking. 1…

  • Agua de sapo

    Cold drink of tapa dulce, fresh ginger and lime juice. Ready in 15 minutes prep and 20 minutes cooking. About…

  • Agua dulce

    Hot drink of dissolved raw cane sugar. Ready in 5 min prep and 15 min cooking. 4 cups. A drink…

  • Arroz con leche

    Creamy cinnamon rice pudding. Ready in 10 min prep and 50 min cooking. 6 servings. A dessert recipe from Costa…

  • Arroz con pollo

    Celebration rice with shredded chicken and vegetables. Ready in 30 min prep and 1 hr cooking. 8 servings. A main…

  • Arreglados

    Small soft rolls split and filled with shredded beef, cheese or beans. Ready in 30 minutes prep and 25 minutes…

  • Café chorreado

    Coffee drip-brewed through a cloth chorreador. Ready in 10 minutes prep and 10 minutes cooking. Serves 4. A drink recipe…

  • Chicha de maíz

    Fermented maize drink served in gourds at Guanacaste fiestas. A wine & spirit recipe from Costa Rica.

  • Chifrijo

    Bar bowl of rice, beans, chicharrón, pico de gallo. Ready in 30 minutes prep and 1 hour 30 minutes cooking.…