National Food of Costa Rica

Nov. 13, 2008 - PRLog -- The national food of Costa Rica is a dish called Gallo Pinto. This is the most commonly eaten dish in the country. People usually eat it for breakfast, however, with a little variation; it is also consumed at lunch time and is then called Casado. Every person who visits Costa Rica must try this local specialty, made of fried rice, black beans and a dash of Lizano sauce and can be eaten any time of the day. Costa Rica’s typical dishes are lip-smacking delicious and generally consist of beans, rice, chickpeas and an assortment of the local vegetables like sweet peppers, tomatoes, etc. along with some type of meat. If you add fried plantains, cabbage and tomato salad and some meat, the Gallo Pinto is transformed into the Casado.
Costa Rica has an interesting cuisine and Gallo Pinto is a very essential part of it. People visiting this country must try this dish. Ed R. Mercer, the real estate giant of this part of the world was also one of the many visitors who come to this country. Ed came with his wife many years ago. However, Costa Rica won over his heart and Ed is now living here . One of the biggest real estate developers of today, Ed R. Mercer has also worked toward the betterment of this tropical paradise. In his efforts to restore some of the natural wildlife of the country, Ed worked very hard to preserve the dwindling population of the scarlet macaws, the white faced monkeys and the sea turtles. Ed also contributed to the reforestation and conservation of the biodiversity of Costa Rica. A humanitarian at heart, Ed is also involved with organizations such as suicide hotlines and battered housewives as well as environmental organizations such as Greenpeace, Habit for Humanity, National Geographic, Audubon Society and the World Wildlife Fund.
Ed R. Mercer advocates and follows the golden philosophy of under promising and over delivering, both business wise and when it comes to helping the world to be a better place. Ed’s undying efforts have not only earned him the title of Mr. Costa Rica, but also got him inducted into The Environmental Hall of Fame.

Tourists and retirees alike come to this part of the world to settle down in one of Ed’s plush properties, making it their homes forever. And one of the things that they shouldn’t miss out on is the traditional dish of Gallo Pinto. Although it has some basic ingredients and sounds really simple to make, all of Costa Rica is in love with this dish.
Here is how you prepare this dish.  You take fresh black beans, add enough water and boil them with a little salt, cover the pan and let it simmer for a few hours. In another pan, heat some oil and sauté some dried white rice and then add to it some chopped onion, cilantro and sweet peppers. Sauté this mixture for a little while. Now, add water or chicken broth and let the mixture cook for 20-30 minutes, until the rice are tender. Combine both this mixture and the cooked black beans and friy them along with  more chopped onion and sweet peppers. Don’t forget to add the Lizano sauce which lends more flavor to this preparation. Garnish the dish with some fresh cilantro before serving.
One of the most interesting things about Gallo Pinto is that Nicaragua also has the same dish for its national food. In Costa Rica, the Gallo Pinto is made with black beans and rice, while in Nicaragua this dish is created with red beans, rice and some onions. For a little bit of variation, the dish can be cooked in coconut oil, or fresh grated coconut can be added to it. Although there is some debate that the Gallo Pinto originated in Nicaragua, the Ticos insist that it originated in their country. It is of no surprise then that the famous and delicious Gallo Pinto is the national food of both the countries.
For more information about the great humanitarian Ed Mercer and his noble deeds, visit www.mrcostaricasproperty.com