Desayuno Típico is the typical Costa Rican breakfast, a simple, healthy meal that can be found in sodas and homes around the country. Much like the casado, there are regional variations, but the staples of the meal are gallo pinto, fruit, fried plantains, eggs any style, and usually a grain like bread or corn tortilla with a spread like natilla.
Add in a cup of local coffee prepared traditional style, and frescos from fruit picked around the home, and you have a meal that forms a staple of the Costa Rican diet.
The Origins of Desayuno Típico
This Costa Rican food comprises ingredients that were historically available throughout the country, could be found fresh in many regions, and were affordable and easy to store, making this meal accessible to everyone.
Today, these factors make this local breakfast a meal that all Costa Ricans and visitors can enjoy.
Another reason the Desayuno Típico has become a staple of the national diet is its nutritional balance. The breakfast has a balance of essential nutrients; carbohydrates from rice and grains, lean proteins from eggs and beans, complex sugars and vitamins and minerals from fruit, calcium from bread or natilla (a sour cream-like spread), and the burst of caffeine from a cup of coffee.
It offers immediate and lasting energy and satiety which gives the body the nutrients it needs to thrive day after day. Fresh fruits also provide a natural variation to each breakfast, which keeps this breakfast interesting and satisfying day after day. (Photos by Robin Sugar).
Bon Vivant’s HouseMom Desayuno Típico
Each family has its own slightly different preparation. Sometimes this comes in the form of adding some favorite spices or a bit of meat to the Gallo pinto or varying the preparation of the eggs. In other preparations, a different grain or spread may be used, a different “salsa” or sauce may be introduced, or seasonal fruit from local farmers’ markets or home gardens may be added.
Casa Brewer's own shared his family’s version of a Desayuno Típico:
- One-pot of Gallo pinto with onion, red pepper, and cilantro. It should be enough that everyone can have seconds and thirds; even fourths.
- A big plate of scrambled eggs made with butter and a pinch of salt. According to Gilberto, scrambled are best because you can pile them up on bread and wrap them in tortillas easiest.
- A loaf or two of freshly baked bread with butter and jams from Friday farmer’s markets (depending on how many people are eating). Gilberto’s mother loves good, fresh-baked french-style breads. She uses them to serve Gallo pinto-avocado-and-egg sandwiches or spread with butter and jam for a sweet, tart, and fruity treat.
- One bottle of Costa Rica’s famous sauce Salsa Lizano to add to the Gallo pinto or spread on the eggs. According to Gilberto, it’s not a Desayuno Típico in his house without this sweet and spicy salsa.
- Fried ripe plantains, sometimes with a bit of cheese on top or a few extra spices like cajún or paprika.
- A bowl of fruit from the market down the road. Usually papaya, banana, with seasonal fruit like a mamón chino from the stand on the corner.
- Frescos made from the fruit trees in the yard. Cas, soursop, or lime are all easily blended up or squeezed, with little sugar but nothing else added.
- Serve each dish on a big family table to pass around.
Where to Get Desayuno Típico in Town?
Staying in homes the Bon Vivant collections, your House Mom can prepare her family version of a Desayuno Típico for breakfast, which is part of a wide range of Costa Rican cuisine options available to guests.
Staying in homes in the Baranda collection, desayuno típico can be ordered before your stay for $15 per person including gallo pinto, eggs served a su gusto, local cheese, plantains and mini croissants.
For those staying in the 229 collection of homes, the key ingredients — rice, beans, plantains, loaves of bread and grains, sauces, and fruits — are all available from Copper and Stone, and you can ask her about any special ingredients that she likes to add.
House Moms are always happy to share a taste of their hometown flavors, and sharing breakfast with them is one of the many ways to quickly settle into life in Costa Rica and the “pura vida” lifestyle when you’re in town.
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FAQs
Given that foods like rice, beans, and tortillas are often eaten at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, meals in Costa Rica can seem repetitive. Breakfast tends to be heavy, with gallo pinto sometimes joined by eggs and fried plantains, while lunch and dinner swap out the eggs for simple proteins and a few vegetables.
What does a Costa Rican breakfast consist of? ›
Given that foods like rice, beans, and tortillas are often eaten at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, meals in Costa Rica can seem repetitive. Breakfast tends to be heavy, with gallo pinto sometimes joined by eggs and fried plantains, while lunch and dinner swap out the eggs for simple proteins and a few vegetables.
What is desayuno típico? ›
Similar to the components of a casado, gallo pinto usually includes toast or tortilla, rice and beans, eggs, a thick slice of fried cheese, and ripe plantains. On any given menu, gallo pinto would be listed as desayuno típico for obvious reasons. It was everyone's go-to breakfast!
What is a typical breakfast drink in Costa Rica? ›
Though Costa Rica is famous for its coffee, agua dulce is the traditional breakfast drink of choice. This hot beverage is made by boiling water or heating milk and adding a piece of tapa de dulce, which is made from a liquid extracted from sugarcane that has been heated and placed in a mold to harden.
What is a typical breakfast time in Costa Rica? ›
Costa Rica operates on the same dining timetable as the rest of northern Latin America. This means dinners typically begin between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m., or around the time the sun sets. Breakfast is normally available beginning at 6:30 a.m. or even earlier! If you're waiting for the check, don't be afraid to ask.
What are the 3 most popular foods in Costa Rica? ›
Pinto and beans are a staple of Costa Rica and common denominator among different culinary tastes in different regions of the country. As a whole, the three most famous dishes of the country are Casado, Gallo Pinto and Arroz con Pollo.
What is the 2 breakfast deal in Costa? ›
A Costa spokeswoman, said: “Our special £2 breakfast deal clearly states on our in-store marketing materials that customers can enjoy a breakfast bap for £2 when any medium or large drink is purchased before 11am. “Further terms and conditions on this offer is also published on our website.
What is desayuno típico in Costa Rica? ›
The Origins of Desayuno Típico
The breakfast has a balance of essential nutrients; carbohydrates from rice and grains, lean proteins from eggs and beans, complex sugars and vitamins and minerals from fruit, calcium from bread or natilla (a sour cream-like spread), and the burst of caffeine from a cup of coffee.
What is desayuno Latino? ›
desayuno noun, masculine (plural: desayunos m) breakfast n (plural: breakfasts)
What is an example of desayunar? ›
The Verb Desayunar in Spanish
The infinitive can be used in sentences like: vamos a desayunar mañana (let's go to have breakfast tomorrow) or me gusta desayunar café y galletas (I like to have coffee and cookies for breakfast).
Almuerzo (lunch) is the biggest meal of the day for Costa Ricans, and savvy travelers know that lunch specials are often a great bargain.
What is the blue zone breakfast in Costa Rica? ›
We eat rice and beans, either black or red, two to three times a day. For lunch this meal is called casado. For breakfast, it is called gallo pinto and consists of rice and beans mixed with onions, peppers, and cilantro, accompanied with corn tortillas and coffee.
What is good morning in Costa Rica? ›
Even when meeting your peers informally, you'll find that Costa Ricans use pleasant greetings: Buenos días/ buen día / buenas tardes/ buenas noches: These greetings mean respectively 'Good morning,' 'good afternoon,' and 'good day. '
What is a desayuno típico? ›
Tipico Desayuno Salvadoreño Typical Salvadorean Breakfast: two scrambled eggs mixed with tomatoes, bell peppers and onions; served with refried beans, fried plantain, sour cream, Salvadorean cheese, avocado and two handmade corn tortillas.
What time do people go to bed in Costa Rica? ›
Costa Rica's close to the equator, which means the days are relatively short—the sun rises between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. and sets between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. year-round. Peña tells me that most people go to bed before 10 p.m. so they can rise with the sun and make the most of their daylight hours.
What food is eaten for almost every meal including breakfast in Costa Rica? ›
The Diet and Popular Dishes
Today, rice and beans is one of the principal meals in Costa Rica, often served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Costa Rican diet relies heavily on this rice-and-beans combination, along with meats, eggs, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables.
How much is a typical breakfast in Costa Rica? ›
Again, breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day and you can load up on Gallo Pinto, tortillas, eggs, fried plantains and hopefully some fresh fruit for around ($4-$7) per person.
What does a typical meal in Costa Rica consist of? ›
Rice and beans are included in nearly every Costa Rican meal, especially breakfast. Potatoes are another Costa Rican staple, part of the starch-rich Tico diet. Pork and beef are the most commonly eaten meats, but chicken and fish dishes are also widely available, especially on the Caribbean coast.
What do people in Costa Rica eat for breakfast in Spanish? ›
Desayuno Típico: The Costa Rican Breakfast
- One-pot of Gallo pinto with onion, red pepper, and cilantro. ...
- A big plate of scrambled eggs made with butter and a pinch of salt. ...
- A loaf or two of freshly baked bread with butter and jams from Friday farmer's markets (depending on how many people are eating).
