Costa Rica, a country located in Central America, is a destination with impressive biodiversity and a strong focus on sustainability. A natural gem with lush tropical forests, white sandy beaches, and crystal-clear waters teeming with coral reefs.
It’s a destination to experience volunteering, with various projects such as childcare in San Ramón, English teaching, women’s empowerment, sea turtle conservation, special needs support, construction, and wildlife rescue.
This natural paradise with so much to offer also boasts a cuisine with unmistakable flavors that are worth trying. The staples of its diet are meat, vegetables, beans, rice, fruits, and a famous sweet treat, “cajeta.”
Some of the typical dishes include:
Casado
This emblematic dish consists of a combination of rice, black beans, meat (chicken, beef, or pork) usually grilled or sautéed, ripe plantain, cabbage salad with tomato and carrot, and sometimes a fried egg. It’s commonly served in both restaurants and Costa Rican households.
Gallo Pinto
This is one of Costa Rica’s most popular breakfasts, though it’s also served for lunch and dinner. It’s also popular in other Central American countries. The key ingredients include rice, beans seasoned with onion, garlic, sweet pepper, and cilantro, fried or scrambled eggs, minced meat, fried plantains, cheese, and tortillas. It’s usually accompanied by fresh juice, fruit, and coffee. In some regions, Lizano sauce (a very popular sauce) is added for extra flavor.
Ceviche
Although this dish originated in Peru, Costa Rica has its own version, especially popular in coastal areas where fresh seafood is abundant. It typically consists of fresh white fish like sea bass or tilapia, cut into pieces and marinated with lemon or lime juice, red onion, tomato, cilantro, and sweet pepper. Some people add avocado, cucumber, and mango. It’s usually served as an appetizer or main dish, and although it seems simple, achieving exquisite flavor is an art.
Olla de Carne
This dish is similar to a beef and vegetable soup or stew. Beef, usually beef, is cut into large pieces and various vegetables like carrot, potato, yam, chayote, celery, and corn are added.
It’s also seasoned with cilantro, onion, and garlic to enhance the flavors. Cooked for hours over low heat, it achieves its texture. It’s typically served for lunch or dinner, especially on rainy or cooler days.
Tamales
This preparation is quite popular during holidays or special occasions. It’s impossible to miss during Christmas. It consists of a corn masa filled with a mixture of meat, usually pork or chicken, vegetables, and sometimes rice, wrapped in banana leaves or bijao leaves and cooked by steaming. The masa is traditionally made with ground corn and seasoned with achiote for flavor and color. Sweet tamales of various flavors can also be found. They’re quite laborious to prepare but are a traditional delight.
Chifrijo
This dish is quite popular as an appetizer in bars and restaurants. It consists of a layer of white rice, followed by a layer of black beans seasoned with onion, garlic, and spices, another layer of crispy pork rinds, another of pico de gallo, and finally a last layer of chopped avocado. It’s accompanied by tortilla chips or toasts. It’s usually shared to prepare the stomach for the following dishes.
Also popular are “café al Chan,” and various fruits like mango, papaya, banana, guava, passion fruit, pineapple, tamarind…
Just reading this, our mouths are already watering, so let’s discover this wonderful country and all it has to offer.