Gallo Pinto (Costa Rican Beans and Rice)

By
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.
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Updated on 01/10/22
Costa Rican Beans and Rice - Gallo Pinto

The Spruce / Marian Blazes
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
309 Calories
8g Fat
50g Carbs
11g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 309
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 180mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 50g 18%
Dietary Fiber 9g 32%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 51mg 254%
Calcium 73mg 6%
Iron 3mg 19%
Potassium 498mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Gallo pinto means "spotted rooster" because apparently the combination of black or red beans and rice resemble a certain type of chicken with speckled black and white feathers. This dish is popular all over Latin America in various forms—such as in Nicaragua, where it is also called gallo pinto, and in Colombia, where a similar dish is known as calentado. Peruvian tacu tacu is a similar refried rice and beans dish that is typically paired with a thin strip of fried steak and a fried egg.

It's basically an excellent way to use up leftover rice and beans, and it's often served for breakfast with a fried egg (basically leftovers, reheated) or fried plantains on the side. In Costa Rica, this dish is seasoned with a special sauce called salsa lizano. If you can't find a bottle of salsa lizano at your local Latin grocery, most people find that Worcestershire sauce plus a bit of cumin make for a reasonable substitute.

One popular and attractive method for serving gallo pinto is to pack it into a lightly oiled bowl (in order to mold it into a dome shape) and then invert it onto the plate. 

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil

  • 1 medium onion, finely diced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves, more for garnish

  • 1 medium red bell pepper, finely diced

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 2 to 3 teaspoons Salsa Lizano, or Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 cups black or dark red cooked beans, with liquid

  • 2 cups cooked white rice

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Place the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  

  2. Add the chopped onion, the garlic, the red pepper, and the chopped cilantro. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are soft and fragrant.  

  3. Add the cumin and salsa lizano (or Worcestershire sauce) and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. 

  4. Add the beans and their liquid, and cook for 1 minute.  

  5. Add the rice and stir until rice is well mixed with the beans and there are no clumps of rice.  

  6. Cover skillet, lower heat, and let mixture simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, until rice is heated through. 

  7. Season with salt and pepper to taste, adding more salsa lizano or Worcestershire sauce to taste. 

  8. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.