Casado Costarricense
A traditional and hearty Costa Rican meal, the Casado is a plate that typically includes rice, black beans, a protein (like fish, chicken, or beef), fried plantains, salad, and a fried egg. It's a complete and balanced meal, often considered a national dish.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 cups White Rice(cooked)
- 1 can (15 oz) Black Beans(rinsed and drained, or 1.5 cups cooked)
- 1/2 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 1/2 medium Bell Pepper(finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1/4 cup Cilantro(chopped)
- 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black Pepper
- 4 portions Protein of choice (e.g., grilled chicken breast, fried fish fillet, or shredded beef)
- 2 medium Ripe Plantains(sliced)
- 4 large Eggs(fried)
- 1 medium Tomato(sliced, for salad)
- 1 cup Lettuce(shredded, for salad)
- 1 half Lime(for dressing and garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the rice and black beans according to your preferred methods. For the beans, sauté chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic in vegetable oil until softened. Add the rinsed beans, some water or broth, chopped cilantro, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 20-30 minutes until flavors meld and beans are tender.
⏱️ 30 minutes - 2
Prepare your chosen protein. This could involve grilling chicken, pan-frying fish, or slow-cooking and shredding beef. Season well with salt and pepper.
- 3
While the protein cooks, fry the plantain slices in a separate pan with a little oil until golden brown and caramelized on both sides. Drain on paper towels.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 4
Fry the eggs sunny-side up or to your preference.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 5
Assemble the Casado: On each plate, place a generous portion of rice and beans. Add a serving of the prepared protein, fried plantains, and a fried egg. Serve with a small side salad of lettuce and tomato, dressed with lime juice, salt, and pepper.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The key to good beans is slow simmering to allow flavors to develop.
- ✓Don't overcook the plantains; they should be sweet and tender, not burnt.
- ✓Casado is highly customizable; feel free to add other sides like picadillo or tortillas.
🔄 Variations
- Add a side of 'picadillo' (ground meat and vegetable hash).
- Serve with a dollop of 'natilla' (Costa Rican sour cream).