Costa Rica: Top 5 Must-Try Dishes From the Central American Country

Costa Rica is known to have the most underappreciated dishes in Latin America, living in the shadows of more famous food cultures such as Mexico, Peru, and Cuba. However, the country has some very popular and delicious dishes that would satisfy any appetite out there.

Costa Rica has a lot of farmlands, and according to Eater, it is a country where anything and everything grows. This means that it is abundant in meat and vegetables. A long shoreline also means that the country has access to some of the freshest seafood in the world.

Costa Rica: 5 Costa Rican Dishes You Must Try

Overall, Costa Rican cuisine is pretty underrated. While people have heard of Mexican tacos or Cuba and Puerto Rico's Lechon, many still do not know anything about food from Costa Rica.

So let's take a closer look at five Costa Rican dishes that definitely need more love and that we feel people must also try out.

Arroz con Pollo

While Arroz con Pollo is not an exclusively Costa Rican dish, this Central American chicken rice dish is one of the most popular dishes among Costa Ricans.

Normally served at birthday parties, according to costarica.org, the dish is a mixture of yellow rice, peas, carrots, corn, and chicken strips and is both filling and delicious.

Picadillo

Picadillo or Costa Rican vegetable hash perfectly reflects the country's rich agriculture. And in Costa Rica, they only use the freshest ingredients in them, as they liven up meat and seafood dishes.

A variety of vegetables are used in Picadillo, from squash to beans to potatoes, and even some fruits like papaya. It can be eaten as is or served alongside rice and beef or corn tortillas.

Olla de Carne

Like many Latin countries, Olla de Carne traces its origins back to Spain. It is a rich and homey beef and vegetable stew that is usually served on weekends or at family gatherings.

It takes a long time to make, as simmering beef short ribs would usually take around eight hours. However, the result is rewarding, as the beef will fall off the bone and come out very tender.

The vegetables also add to the dish's richness, and people can include yuca, potatoes, chayote, carrots, corn, or plantains. It is usually served with rice and beans on the side, and rightfully so, as the rice can soak up all that lovely gravy from the stew.

Casado

Casado is not one single dish but a combination plate of several dishes. It is the food of the typical working man, and it varies from dish to dish.

Sometimes, it can be a combination of stewed beef with rice and beans on the side, a salad, or fried fish with picadillo, a fried egg, and tortillas. But the most typical combination features rice, beans, salad, tortillas, fried platano maduro, and meat.

Each region has its combination, and there is much debate about what makes the best combo. However, this is still the quintessential Costa Rican meal, and any food list is incomplete without it.

Arroz con Leche

And finally, let us end the list with dessert! And one of the favorites is Arroz con Leche, which is literally rice mixed with milk.

But while that sounds simple, the possible combinations in customizing this dish are endless, as one can flavor it with just sugar or twist it up with lemon zest and cinnamon. It is a versatile dessert that is a great way to clear and refresh the palette.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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