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1. Gallo pinto: This is a traditional breakfast dish made with rice and black beans cooked together with various spices and seasonings. It is often served with scrambled eggs, plantains, and tortillas.
2. Casado: This is a typical lunch or dinner dish that consists of a plate with rice, black beans, a protein (such as grilled meat, fish, or chicken), a salad, and fried plantains. Casado is considered one of the national dishes of Costa Rica.
3. Olla de carne: This is a hearty beef stew made with chunks of beef, vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, chayote, and corn, and a broth flavored with spices and herbs. It is often served with rice or tortillas.
4. Tamales: Tamales are cornmeal dough filled with various ingredients like pork, chicken, vegetables, or cheese. They are wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.
5. Empanadas: Empanadas are dough pockets filled with different fillings, such as meat, cheese, or vegetables, and fried until crispy.
6. Ceviche: This is a seafood dish made with raw fish or shrimp marinated in lime juice, onions, cilantro, and other seasonings. It is often served with crackers, chips, or tortillas.
7. Arroz con pollo: This is a flavorful dish made with rice cooked in a broth with pieces of chicken, vegetables, and spices.
8. Chifrijo: This is a popular snack or appetizer made with fried pork chunks, black beans, rice, and pickled vegetables.
9. Tres leches cake: This is a popular dessert made with a sponge cake soaked in three types of milk (evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream). It is often topped with whipped cream and fruit.
10. Café chorreado: Costa Rica is known for its coffee production, and café chorreado is a traditional way of brewing coffee using a metal filter and a cloth strainer. It produces a strong and flavorful cup of coffee.