Of all their summer adventures after a month in this beautiful country, learning about typical Costa Rican food was among my kids’ favorite memories. My babies love being in the kitchen and enjoy all kinds of rice and bean dishes, but Gallo Pinto has become one of their favorites.
A simple rice and beans recipe, Costa Rican Gallo Pinto comes together quickly and is often enjoyed as a rice breakfast recipe with fried eggs on the side. While easy international dishes are delicious, this vegetarian meal is great any time of day! Gallo Pinto is truly the hallmark of Costa Rican breakfast recipes.
Gallo Pinto
Costa Rican Gallo Pinto
Translated as “spotted rooster”, Gallo Pinto is a vegetarian rice and beans dish served with natilla (Costa Rican sour cream), queso frito, plantains, sliced avocado. It resembles the authentic rice and bean recipe from other Latino regions and especially reminds me of Congri, a Cuban black beans and rice recipe that my mom loves to make.
A unique ingredient of this Costa Rican dish is its use of a secret Costa Rican sauce! This Pinto Gallo recipe is common in this Central American region, also notably in Nicaragua, and is one of the ingredients of a casado or typical “typical Costa Rica food”.
Typical Costa Rican Food
Popular Foods in Costa Rica
Costa Rican cuisine uses simple, fresh ingredients to create flavorful recipes without a ton of fuss. In fact, my kids create various Costa Rica food recipes without any help from me. Just check them out the video as they get down in the kitchen! The photos below show our kiddos at summer school in Costa Rica learning to make this yummy breakfast rice recipe after fetching fresh eggs from the school’s egg coup. Ayyy, take me back to the #PuraVida lifestyle!!!
The Secret to Costa Rica Food
The secret of how to make rice and beans in Costa Rican comes down to this sauce right here… Salsa Lizano! A vegetable-based sauce, it has a smoky flavor from hints of cumin and only a bit of spice from black pepper. I love cumin as its a big part of our Cuban and Puerto Rican recipes. It’s a thicker sauce, so make sure to shake the bottle well before using (as instructed in Spanish on the bottle).
Salsa Lizano!
Costa Rica food has many recipes that include Salsa Lizano as an ingredient. And if not a Salsa Lizano recipe, the sauce is used as a condiment by many.
Some stores will carry it, but if you’re making Gallo Pinto this week, it’s just as easy to buy Salsa Lizano on Amazon. You can perhaps substitute Worcestershire Sauce with added cumin, as seen in some recipes, but it won’t be traditional Costa Rican Gallo Pinto. Just buy Salsa Lizano – it definitely won’t go to waste!
Costa Rica Gallo Pinto
Gallo Pinto is the best rice and beans because it’s quick to make, which is what all of us busy moms need during the week! Add a bit of traditional Costa Rica food culture without spending a ton of time in the kitchen. It’s the most famous of Costa Rican breakfast recipes too, so skip the cereal one morning and enjoy this plate instead!
Use day-old rice and canned beans if you must, just get the kids in the kitchen with you and bring those Latino flavors to your dinner table. Of course, homemade beans are preferred (and they really are easy to make – my link is below to Cuban black beans recipe), but don’t overthink it – canned it fine when you’re rushing to get dinner on the table.
Related: Frijoles Negros – Cuban Black Beans
White Rice Recipes to Enjoy:
Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp – We ate this delicious garlic shrimp with white rice in Hawaii and immediately cooked it up at home!
Cuban Arroz con Pollo – I grew up on this savory Cuban rice dish and my kids do too!
Cuban Arroz Congri – A traditional Cuban dish of white rice and black beans cooked together.
West African Jollof Rice – delicious African rice dish made with stewed tomatoes.
Arroz con Leche – a Cuban dessert recipe made with short grain rice.
Cuban Fried Rice – a twist on a traditional Cuban rice dish, Arroz Frito hails from Chinese immigrants.
Curry Mango with Organic White Rice – a savory curry made with mango and organic chicken.
Traditional Mexican Rice – stewed tomato sauce in toasted white rice simmered with smoky spices
Easy Coconut Rice in a Rice Cooker – simple, yet so savory
Yellow Indian Jasmine Rice – made with turmeric and cumin!
Gallo Pinto
Found on every menú throughout the country, Gallo Pinto is at the heart of traditional Costa Rican food. This hearty rice and bean dish is often served as breakfast alongside fried eggs but is delicious any time of day as either an entre or a side dish.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 cups cooked white short grain rice
- 2 cups cooked black beans
- 1/2 cup Salsa Lizano
- 1 red pepper, chopped
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 2-4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro
Instructions
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté chopped bell pepper and onions about 6-8 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Add black beans and Salsa Lizano, stirring to combine. Simmer until some of the liquid has evaporated and the flavors have combined. Stir in cooked rice until well incorporated. Cook until heated through and most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir in chopped cilantro.
Serve with Salsa Lizano, salt and pepper, and natilla (Costa Rican sour cream).
Notes
The smokey flavor of Salsa Lizano is the base for this dish’s distinct taste. Costa Ricans love their salsa and use it as an ingredient and a condiment for Gallo Pinto! You can find Salsa Lizano in the Hispanic aisle at your local grocer or online.
