Costa Rica
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Local Food
Commonly served vegan
Dishes that are traditionally served vegan
Red or black beans mixed with white rice, onions and other vegetables
Gallo Pinto
Stir fried vegetables, made with green beans, potatoes and squash and local spices
Vegetarian Picadillo
Red or black beans cooked with white rice, coconut milk and local spices
Caribbean Rice and Beans
Deep fried green plantain slices
Patacones
A salad made of lettuce, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, chickpeas and corn. Make sure: no eggs or cheese is added
Mixed Salad
Green plantain salad made with onion, pepper, lemon and cilantro. Make sure: mayonnaise is not used
Plantain Ceviche
Black bean soup made with onion. tomatoes, cilantro and spices. Make sure: meat broth is not used and boiled egg is not added
Sopa Negra
Cooked figs cover with white sugar, can be served as a dessert or a snack
Sugared Figs
Sweet hot beverage made from sugar cane
Agua Dulce
Traditional Caribbean drink made with sugar cane, cinnamon, lemon and ginger
Agua e Sapo
A jam-like sweet made from chiverre fruit with sugar and spices
Chiverre honey
Soft corn dough round flatbread usually served as a side with different dishes
Tortillas
Dishes that can be Veganized
Dishes that are not vegan by default, but can be made so, by asking to remove or change part of the ingredients.
Traditional lunch including rice, beans, salad, plantain and meat. To veganize: ask for no meat, cheese or eggs
Casado
Corn or wheat tortilla with meat or vegetarian picadillo. To veganize: ask for no meat or cheese
Gallos
Beets, potatoes and hard boiled egg salad. To veganize: ask for no eggs or mayonnaise
Ensalada Rusa
Pasta salad made with cilantro, onions, pepper, lime, mayonnaise and tuna. To veganize: ask for no mayonnaise or tuna
Ensalada de caracolitos
A rice bowl made with beans, tomato salsa, avocado and pork. To veganize: ask for no meat
Chifrijo
Rice and palm hearts mixed with onions, peppers, cilantro, and covered with cheese sauce.To veganize: ask for no cheese
Palmito rice
Dishes that are not vegan, but appear to be
Dishes that might look vegan, but contain animal products.
Fried wheat dough dessert made with honey and eggs
Prestiños
Plantain and bean patties made with cheese/ butter
Piononos
Mashed corn and potatoes cooked in plantain leaves, usually made with lard and meat
Tamales
Corn dough pastry filled with potatoes, plantain or meat will also usually contain cheese
Empanadas
Traditional cake made with eggs and milk
Flan
Sweet cornmeal bread made with sugar and butter (vegan options available)
Tamal de Elote
Corn soup will contain pork
Pozol
Rice beverage usually made with milk
Horchata
Mostly made with butter or eggs
