Clase de Cocina

This is DeAnna reporting to you all about my favorite thing that I am learning: Costa Rican cuisine!  

One of the first things that we have learned here while in Sámara is that groceries are SUPER EXPENSIVE!! With a large family and hungry bellies that need to be filled I went in search of inexpensive ways to cook. What did I find?!? Costa Rican recipes that pretty much all include rice, beans, and potatoes!! When searching for recipes I discovered that the most authentic Tico dish is Gallo Pinto (pretty much just rice and beans incorporated together with onions and red peppers) finished with a fried egg on top. This has become a family favorite (and a weekly staple). 

I have been so excited to participate in our school’s weekly cooking classes where I have learned a few fun new recipes. The first was picadillo de papas (cooked diced potatoes with onion and peppers served with homemade corn tortillas). I usually include some leftover rice and beans to our mixture and you cannot forget Costa Rican salsa over the top! 

Our second cooking class we learned to make empanadas, traditionally filled with refried beans and/or cheese. These typically are deep fried (which was how we did them in class) but when we make them at home (again, filled with rice and beans) we bake them. Maddie and Olivia have loved these so much that they even made us some Nutella filled empanadas for a little gathering of friends we had the other day (YUM)!  

This past week we learned to make patacones (twice fried green plantains). This had already been a family favorite but I was able to learn some great cooking tricks to make it a bit easier. They are kind of like American fries, just in a circular shape. We love to eat them with salsa and guacamole!! 

Every week after cooking class (Wednesdays) we go to the grocery store and pick up any needed items and rush home to make the meal we just learned from class. This has become a highlight of my week!!