Costa Rica Food
Costa Rica Food Specialties
By Explore Costa Rica Staff
Jul 31, 2006, 14:57

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Costa Rica Food Specialties

Costa Rica Food

These are the most popular dishes in Costa Rica. You'll find them in most of the local dinners as well as the touristy restaurants, hotels and resorts. Try one.. or try them all.. delicious, nutritious, and usually the best price on the menu.

tortillas - Mexican-style corn pancakes or omelettes

arroz con pollo - a basic dish of chicken and rice

casado – means married man’s meal (your served the leftovers) usually the best deal of the house – a large plate with a little of everything.. Your choice of meat (chicken, pork, beef or fish) with arroz (rice), frijoles (black beans), repollo (cabbage), and plantano (plantain), pasta salad or vegetables  

ceviche - marinated seafood in lime or lemon, chilled, made of corvina (sea bass), langostinos (shrimps), or conchas (shellfish). Normally served with lemon, chopped onion, garlic, and sweet red peppers. Try it at least once… delicious!

chorreados - corn pancakes, often served with sour cream (natilla)

elote - corn on the cob, either boiled (elote cocinado) or roasted (elote asado)

empanadas - turnovers stuffed with beans, cheese, meat, or potatoes

enchiladas - pastries stuffed with cheese and potatoes and occasionally meat

gallo - tortilla sandwiches stuffed with beans, cheese or meat

gallo pinto - the national dish (literally "spotted rooster"), made of lightly spiced rice and black beans. Traditional breakfast (desayuno) or lunch dish. Sometimes includes huevos fritos (fried eggs).

olla de carne - soup made of squash, corn, yuca (a local tuber), chayote (a local pear-shaped vegetable), ayote (a pumpkinlike vegetable), and potatoes

palmitos - succulent hearts of palm, popular in salads

patacones - thin slices of deep-fried plantain. A popular Caribbean dish. Served like French fries.

pescado ahumado - smoked marlin

picadillo - a side dish of fried vegetables and meat

sopa negra - a creamy soup, served with a hard-boiled egg and vegetables in the bean broth

sopa de mondongo - soup made from tripe (the stomach of a cow)

tamales - boiled cornmeal pastries stuffed with corn, chicken or pork, wrapped in a banana or corn leaf. Popular around the holidays

National Drink: Guaro

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