Gallo Pinto: Costa Rica's National Breakfast and the Day-Old Rice Trick
Gallo pinto, rice and black beans sautéed with onion and pepper, is the national breakfast of Costa Rica. The name translates as "spotted rooster," usually explained by the speckled look of dark beans against white rice. Nicaragua has its own version too, and the two countries like to argue about whose is better.
What you need
- Cooked rice, cold from the day before: 14 oz (400 g).
- Cooked black beans, with some of their broth: 10½ oz (300 g) of beans and ½ cup (100 ml) of broth.
- Onion and red or green bell pepper, finely chopped.
- Olive oil, fresh cilantro, salt, and black pepper.
- Salsa Lizano, or a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
The trick: rice from the day before
Freshly cooked rice clumps and falls apart in the pan. Rice from the day before is drier and firmer, so the grains stay separate and take on the color of the beans. If you are cooking rice for dinner, make extra and keep it in the refrigerator for the next morning.
How it comes together
- Heat the oil in a large skillet and sauté the onion and pepper for 5 minutes.
- Add the beans with their broth and cook for 3 minutes, mashing a few with the spoon.
- Add the rice and the sauce and mix over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the rice takes on the color of the beans and most of the liquid has evaporated.
- Finish with the cilantro, salt, and pepper. Serve hot.
What to serve with it
Fried or scrambled eggs, sliced avocado, or warm tortillas are the classic companions. As written, the dish itself contains no eggs or dairy, so the eggs are optional.
About Salsa Lizano
Salsa Lizano is a Costa Rican brown sauce that adds a slightly sweet, tangy, spiced note. If you cannot find it, a splash of Worcestershire sauce is a reasonable substitute. Classic Worcestershire contains anchovies, so check the label if you cook for vegans.
Nutrition at a glance
Per serving (the recipe makes 4): about 305 kcal, 8 g fat, 10 g protein, and 8 g fiber. These values are estimates calculated from the ingredients.
Get the full recipe
The exact quantities are on our free recipes page. Gallo pinto is also one of the Nicoya recipes in Cooking for a Long Life, a book of 70 recipes from Sardinia, Ikaria, Nicoya, and Loma Linda, with a 7-day plan.
Also on ketoLyn: Greek salad · Goya champuru · 8 free recipes
Cooking for a Long Life has 70 recipes from four long-lived cuisines, with nutrition on every recipe and a 7-day plan.
Get Cooking for a Long Life — $7.99Nutrition values are estimates calculated from the ingredients. This article is for general information only and isn't medical advice.