Costa Rica Recipes
Pura vida on a plate, twice a day. Not sure what to eat in Costa Rica? Start with Olla de Carne, Sopa Negra, Cajeta de Coco and Chorreadas con Natilla. Here are 7 authentic Costa Rica recipes, each from a specific region, with cultural context and dietary substitutions for every table.
7 recipes
CasadoSan José, Costa Rica · easy · 1 hThe soda-counter plate that "marries" rice, black beans, sweet plantains, salad, and a griddled protein.
Casado Chorreadas con NatillaSan José, Costa Rica · easy · 25 minSweet-savory fresh corn pancakes, crisp at the edges, served with a dollop of cool natilla (sour cream), a Costa Rican country breakfast.
Cajeta de CocoSan José, Costa Rica · medium · 55 minA dense coconut-and-milk fudge cooked down to chewy squares, a traditional Costa Rican homemade candy.
Olla de CarneSan José, Costa Rica · medium · 3 hCosta Rica's weekend pot of meat: beef simmered with a rainbow of root vegetables, corn, chayote, and plantain into a rich, nourishing broth, served with rice.
Sopa NegraSan José, Costa Rica · easy · 55 minA silky Costa Rican black bean soup, seasoned with onion, sweet pepper, garlic, and cilantro and crowned with a poached egg, served with rice.
ChifrijoSan José, Costa Rica · easy · 50 minA layered bowl of rice, beans, crisp fried pork, and pico de gallo with tortilla chips, Costa Rica's favorite bar snack.
Picadillo de Papa (Costa Rican Potato and Chorizo Hash)San José, Costa Rica · easy · 50 minSmall cubes of potato boiled just tender, then cooked with chorizo, onion, garlic, achiote, grated carrot and cilantro into a soft, orange-tinted picadillo served with rice, beans and tortillas.
📋 Teaching Costa Rica?A free, printable Country of the Week guide for the classroom: geography, a kid-friendly recipe, and discussion prompts.
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