Pura Vida on a Plate: Veggie Dishes You Can't Miss!
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Gallo Pinto – This classic Costa Rican dish combines rice and black beans sautéed with onions, bell peppers, and cilantro. It is a breakfast dish typically served with scrambled eggs, fried plantains, or sour cream.
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Casado – A popular Costa Rican lunch, consisting of rice, black beans, salad, and fried plantains. Vegetarian versions of the dish replace the meat with extra vegetables or tofu.
- Sopa Negra – A flavorful soup made from black beans, garlic, onions, peppers, and cilantro. It’s usually topped with a hard-boiled egg and served with rice.
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Patacones – Twice-fried green plantains often served with beans, guacamole, or pico de gallo.
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Picadillos – Picadillos is a savory dish made with green beans, potatoes, and sautéed onions, peppers, and spices, often served as a delicious side with a casado.
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Arroz con Palmito – A tasty dish with rice and heart of palm, giving it a mild, nutty flavor.
- Chorreada – Sweet cornmeal pancakes, often served with sour cream or cheese.
- Crema de Pejibaye – A rich and creamy soup made with pejibaye, a type of palm fruit, that adds a unique flavor to Costa Rican cuisine.
- Ensalada de Palmito – A fresh salad with a heart of palm, tomatoes, and avocado with a light dressing.
- Empanadas de Frijoles – Golden, crispy fried pastries stuffed with seasoned black beans, cheese, and vegetables.
- Tamal de Elote – A sweet corn tamale made with ground corn, sugar, and sometimes cheese, wrapped in a plantain leaf and steamed.