Gallo Pinto is the breakfast choice for most Costa Ricans on a daily basis. It’s a dish prepared with white rice and beans mixed together and commonly served with eggs on the side or other types of proteins like beef, chicken or cheese among others. Sides also include fried sweet plantains, corn tortilla, bread or sour cream.
Gallo Pinto is easy to prepare as long as you have cooked white rice and black beans. Here’s how to make the typical Costa Rican breakfast dish.
Gallo Pinto Recipe (Serves 4 aprox.)
Ingredients
2½ cups of cooked white rice.
1½ cups of cooked black beans,
¼ cup of chopped onion.
¼ cup of finely chopped cilantro.
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
2 teaspoons of Lizano salsa (this a product sold in Costa Rica, a bottled sauce made of spices and vegetables, if you can get a hold of it, do it, if not you can still go ahead and cook some delicious Costa Rican Gallo Pinto).
Preparation
Heat the oil in large pan, add the onions and let the cook for a couple of minutes until it crystalizes. Add the rice and stir fry for a couple of minutes and then add the beans with some of its liquid. Stir some more and then add the Lizano sauce if available and mix some more. Add the cilantro just before serving.
You can also make some scrambled eggs to go with your Gallo Pinto. Some people also like put chopped green peppers, garlic or anything that you consider will make it better. I’ve known of people even putting some cola in their Pinto! The sky is the limit.
Gallo Pinto means spotted rooster in English.