Must-try foods when visiting Costa Rica

Anyone who has been to Costa Rica will tell you that it is simply one of the most wonderful places you can visit in the world.

The people are very friendly and welcoming, and the overall atmosphere is very relaxed, as summed up by the country's famous phrase: pura vida , meaning pure life.

In addition to enjoying the beautiful biodiversity the country has to offer, there are some truly delicious Costa Rican dishes that you must try while you are there.

Gallo Pinto is a traditional breakfast served in Costa Rica, consisting of a mixture of rice and beans, which can be black or red, cooked with bell peppers, onions, garlic, cilantro and finished with the classic Lizano sauce .

The sauce is rich, made from vegetables, and has been a staple in Costa Rica since the 1920s.

Gallo Pinto

Casado is a traditional meal consisting of many ingredients including rice, plantains, black beans, salad, tortillas, and often added protein .

This can be chicken, pork, beef, fish, sausage or anything else.

Casado

Olla de Carne is often served at lunch, especially during the colder months of the year.

The stew is made with bone-in beef and corn, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, cassava, pumpkin, chayote squash and yams.

A rich stew served with rice, sometimes with a squeeze of lemon juice on top.

Ora de Carne

Sopa negra is a black bean soup that is rich and rich because some beans are mixed in to give it more viscosity.

It is made from bell peppers, celery, onions, garlic and seasoned with cilantro, salt and pepper.

The soup is usually served with rice and hard-boiled egg slices.

Sopanegra

Picadillos are vegetables made from chopped vegetables that are then sautéed in fat with onions, stock and herbs.

Many can be just vegetables, but with some added protein, including beef and sausage.

Some fruits are also sometimes added to the dish and served with tortillas so that they are eaten as gallos, Costa Rican tacos.

Picadillos

Copo is a delicious Costa Rican dessert made with shaved ice.

The ice is covered with a variety of toppings, which may include powdered milk, syrup, fruit, and marshmallows.

There are many variations, the most famous being the Churchill, which is served with red cola syrup and condensed milk.