Cooking is like being in a relationship: select some ingredients and combine them well in order to create a pleasant taste. Stir carefully and cook al dente. And never forget to spice up things every now and then, to keep it all interesting!
In Costa Rica, the typical set dish is called “Casado” literally translating into “married”. This down-to-earth combination not only is very complete and nutritious, but also brings together in one plate a great variety of flavors.
Veggie casado
A typical casado would include: a choice of beef/chicken/fish and, sometimes (particularly in touristic areas) a vegetarian combination. The sides could actually constitute a dish on their own, including steamed white rice, juicy black beans, garden salad, fried plantain and, a bit less usually, a fried egg.
What’s there not to love in this dish?
It has grilled flavors, the freshness of the salad, the rice & beans induced satisfaction and the caramelized texture of the fried plantain that I tend to leave for my last bite, for a sweet ending.
Enjoying a casado and Costa Rican coffee in La Fortuna
During our 2 week stay in Costa Rica I must have had at least 10 casados (between USD5 and USD8), in all their meaty, fishy and veggie shapes, at different restaurants and cities. And it is amazing that ALL of them tasted great. Ingredients in Costa Rica tend to be very fresh, with intense flavors (even with little seasoning – like experienced with salads) and that makes for great meals served in generous portions.
Fish casado in Playa Samara
The food elements on a casado are super simple and anyone can cook them. But together, casado is one of the most satisfactory food combinations a traveler on the move could wish for!
Looks delicious – can’t wait to try it when I get to Costa Rica! :)
So you’re going to Mexico and Costa Rica? Pretty cool! :) What do you plan to visit?
Share your experiences with us as well and I hope you enjoy both countries as much as we did!
I only spent two days in Costa Rica, taking a bus from Nicaragua to Panama I just didn’t think it would fit in my budget but I do remember the food was good, especially the gallo pinto.
Costa Rica is a bit more expensive than it’s neighbors but well worth the money in my opinion. It’s quite “touristic” so there are some expensive things that tourists that don’t shop around might fall for (like transportation between cities).
Food was great though, and not every expensive in the regular places that locals would eat at! :)
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