BEANS AND RICE IN OUR COUNTRIES

Sorry that I haven´t made post this month, I have been really busy with my job and other things, but I will always come back to share more info with everyone about this little bridge of the continent!!

Today a Post about food, or more specific about a traditional dish called Beans and rice! Actually in every country this meal is called differently. For instance, in Honduras is called Casamiento, which is something like Marriage, yes, a marriage between the black or red beans with the lovely rice.
In Nicaragua and Costa Rica is called Gallo Pinto.

More about this now!

Gallo pinto is a traditional dish of Nicaragua and Costa Rica made of rice with beans cooked all together. It has more rice than beans. There are disputes between the Costarricans and Nicaraguans about who invented this dish. Most Latin Americans agree that the dish is part of both countries now and that they share more similarities than differences.



The history and origin of the name gallo pinto are poorly understood because no one knows exactly where Central American region originated. The dish itself has existed in Latin America since it was brought by African slaves, who called it several different names. It does not matter how you call rice and beans, gallopinto, Gallo pinto or other variations, the dish remains as the main staple diet for many central Americans and Latin Americans situated close to the Caribbean. From New Orleans to the Venezuelan coast, we all eat some type of rice and bean variation.

When the red beans and rice are combined, the rice gets colored by the beans, and the mix results in a multi-colored, or speckled appearance. Beans are quickly cooked until the juice is almost consumed. Gallo pinto means "spotted rooster" in Spanish, thus t

he name fits with the colored rice.



Regarding the true nature of gallo pinto, it is believed that it came to be known through the Afro-Latino immigrants who live on the Caribbean coasts. They simply call it "rice and beans" and prepare it with coconut oil and/or shredded coconut. A similar dish is found in Panama and in El Salvador where it is called casamiento.

This tasty combination is prepared in different ways depending on the country, but in my opinion the best is the one from Costa Rica. They take this dish seriostly. Now the recepy!

Gallo Pinto (beans and rice) Recipe

1 lb (450 gr.) Black beans. Fresh are best but most likely you’ll find them dried.

8-10 sprigs cilantro (coriander leaf) fresh or frozen, not dried!

1 small or medium onion

½ small red or yellow sweet pepper (optional)

3 cups (700 ml) chicken broth or water

2 cups (350 ml) white rice

½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt

1 Tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil

1-3 Tablespoon oil to fry the Gallo Pinto

If beans are dried, cover with water and soak overnight, if they are fresh, just rise them off. Drain the beans and add fresh water to an inch (2.5-cm) above the top of the beans, salt, and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and reduce heat to very low simmer until beans are soft (~3 hours).Chop cilantro, onion, and sweet pepper very fine.

Add 1 Tablespoon oil to a large pan and sauté the dry rice for 2 minutes over medium high flame then add half of the chopped onion, sweet pepper and cilantro and sauté another 2 minutes. Add water or chicken broth, bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer until rice is tender (20-35 minutes). This is also the recipe for Tico rice used in other favorites like tamales.

Once the rice and beans are cooked you can refrigerate or freeze them. Keep a significant amount of the “black water” with the beans (½-1 cup 120-240 ml). This is what gives the rice its color and some of its flavor. Sauté the rice, beans reserved chopped onion, sweet pepper and cilantro together in vegetable oil for a few minutes. Sprinkle with a little fresh chopped cilantro just before serving.

Now, how do you serve this delicious meal?

With everything, in the breakfast is eaten with scrambled eggs and toast. Maybe with tortillas, Sour cream and cheese. In the lunch you can use some kind of salad or meat. It goes very well with red meat.



And in the dinner it can be served with Salchichon (Sausage) and bacon. Is up to you, but one thing is for sure. Its Great and tasty, and very cheap and easy to make!!



Enjoy a good Gallo Pinto, Casamiento, Moros y Cristianos, which is basically the same.

Boon apettite!!

And Now a video with the recipe so you can watch it live!

Source: http://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=282&Itemid=489