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Costa Rican Cuisine — Wonderful Dishes From This Vibrant Country

by Jeanne in Costa Rica

While Costa Rica is known for its beautiful landscapes, friendly people, biodiversity, and amazing sunsets, its cuisine is often overlooked. When we moved here, we never considered the food as something to look forward to.

Nobody in the U.S. talks about Costa Rican food, and it’s not a type of food you find in restaurants or grocery aisles. We have been pleasantly surprised by the culinary experience it has given us.

It is a unique blend of Spanish, Caribbean, and indigenous influences that mix and gives a taste that leaves you with the feeling of the country — warm, gentle, and full of flavor!

Essential Ingredients of Costa Rican Food

One of the essential ingredients in Costa Rican cuisine is rice. While rice is a staple food in many cultures worldwide, it plays a prominent role in Costa Rica.

Two of the most popular dishes are the following:

• Arroz con pollo, or rice with chicken, is one of the most popular dishes in the country. The dish typically consists of chicken cooked with rice, onions, garlic, and various spices. You can find “Arroz con…” with many proteins besides chicken at restaurants or local sodas. Shrimp, fish, seafood (shrimp, clams, and other seafood), and pork are also popular. In Spanish we say, arroz con camorones, arroz con pescado, arroz con mariscos, and arroz con cerdo.

• Gallo pinto, a mixture of rice and black beans typically served for breakfast. Eggs, tortillas, and other side dishes often accompany Gallo pinto.

• Casado, a traditional Costa Rican dish, consists of rice, beans, meat (usually beef, chicken, or fish —Carne, pollo, or Pescado. This dish can be found at many restaurants and all local sodas. It is my favorite because the flavors are lovely, it has everything I need and like and it fills me up. In addition, Casado is usually an inexpensive dish that you can buy for $6 - $7 in more rural areas and $7 - $11 in tourist areas.

Another critical ingredient in Costa Rican cuisine is plantains. Plantains are a type of banana that is larger and starchier than the sweet bananas we’re used to in the United States.

Plantains are used in various dishes, including Patacones, a staple of Costa Rican cuisine. They are fried plantain slices and are often served as a side dish. Maduros are more mature or ripe plantains, fried and served as a sweet and savory snack.

Costa Rican cuisine will satisfy your palate if you're a seafood lover. Given the country’s location on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, seafood is plentiful and provides various varieties. A prevalent seafood dish is a ceviche, made with raw fish marinated in lime juice, onions, cilantro, and other seasonings.

And for meat lovers, Costa Rican cuisine offers plenty of options. Carne asada, grilled beef, is popular with rice, beans, and salad. Chifrijo, a combination of fried pork, beans, rice, and pico de gallo, is another meat-based dish enjoyed throughout the country.

Gallo Pinto, Arroz con Pollo, Casado and Chifrijo Recipes

To help you out, here are some recipes you can try at home. The flavors may help you decide to move to Costa Rica!

Costa Rican Gallo Pinto Recipe

Arroz con Pollo

Casado

Chifrijo

A Final Thought

Costa Rican cuisine is a diverse and delicious blend of ingredients, flavors, and influences that reflect the country’s rich cultural heritage and natural resources.

Whether you’re a fan of seafood, meat, or vegetarian cuisine, there’s sure to be something to suit your tastes in this vibrant and flavorful country.

If you haven’t yet finalized your decision to move to Costa Rica, maybe these popular dishes will help you with your verdict!

Pura Vida! 🌺

About The Author

Jeanne and her husband, James, live in Costa Rica.

They moved from the USA to enjoy a slower and more relaxed pace of life, and soon after had found their new home.

If you'd like to meet fellow expats who've made the move successfully, consider attending the 7-Day 'Moving To Costa Rica' Relocation Retreat.