We hope you enjoy these Cut The Crap Costa Rica Kitchen Recipes and information on local fruits and vegetables. We have provided descriptions and nutrition information for produce that is common in Costa Rica and other Central American countries. These foods are generally grown in-country which reduces their costs.
Although we are not nutrition experts or doctors, we have consulted these experts and have used our own experience to form the basis for the health benefits of most dishes. The majority of recipes and foods are healthy choices; however, we have added a few "not so healthy" choices to satisfy those occasional cravings.
Costa Rica Kitchen Recipes, try something new. Remove things you don't need. Cook what is local. And, stay in budget.
How To Cook Camote Sweet Potatoes With MarshmallowsBy Steve PageBestselling Cookbook authors Steve & Nikki go head to head to see who can make the best Thanksgiving side dish. Both Costa Rican Camote dishes were served in Costa Rica at the annual Tamarindo Church Thanksgiving dinner? The vote is in. Learn how they made the dishes and who the winner is.
Black Beans – Electric Pressure CookerBy Steve PageBlack beans are a staple in the Costa Rican diet. You will find black beans as a side of some casados and breakfast plates as an alternative to red beans. They can also be used in place of red beans for gallo pinto, a signature dish of Costa Rica. Black beans that have been refried and mashed are often found as a dip for patacones and are also known as tostones.
Black beans are very versatile and can be used to make a variety of dishes. Soups, dips, sides, and even gluten-free brownies can be made from this bean. Also, black beans are packed full of several vitamins and minerals that have medicinal properties for your body. Therefore, black beans should be a staple in your diet as a result of their versatility and health benefit.
Some health benefits associated with black beans include:
1. Maintaining Healthy Bones- from iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc.
2. Lowering Blood Pressure - with low sodium and contain potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
3. Warding Off Heart Disease - due to fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin B6, and phytonutrient, and no cholesterol.
4. Preventing Cancer- from Selenium, Saponins, folate, and fiber.
5. Managing Diabetes- with high-fiber.
6. Healthy Digestion- as a result of the high-fiber.
7. Weight Loss- due to the high-fiber.
Red Beans – Electric Pressure CookerBy Steve PageBlack beans are a staple in the Costa Rican diet. You will find black beans as a side of some Red beans are a staple in the Costa Rican diet. You will find red beans as a side of some casados and breakfast plates, as an alternative to black beans. Red beans can also be used in gallo pinto (read more...)Chile Lime Chayote – Instant PotBy Nikki PageIf you are looking for an affordable side for any dish, give this Chile Lime Chayote a try. Prepared in an instant pot, it is easy to make and tastes great. Since chayote is a local vegetable it is a cheap way to fill your family's stomachs. The chili spice gives a zesty flavor to the
(read more...)Seasoned Chicken & Potatoes – Electric Pressure CookerBy Nikki PageSeasoned Chicken & Potatoes is a simple, yet delicious Instant Pot recipe. This tasty dish is a great way to add protein and other nutrients to your diet. The instant pot pressure cooker does a great job trapping the juices of the chicken, resulting in moist flavorful bites. The potatoes are tasty too, since they absorb the spices and flavoring from the chicken. Just add a few garnishes and you have a dish that is appealing and mouthwatering.
Tip: Add hot sauce or other sauce to increase flavor, as desired.
Note: Adding butter to potatoes increases the flavor, but also adds fat and calories.
Chicken Soup – Electric Pressure CookerBy Nikki PageChicken Soup is not only for when you are sick but makes a great lunch, dinner or even a quick snack. Using the electric pressure cooker makes it easy to prepare chicken soup for a large family, or banquet.
Once the pot of soup is made it is simple to reheat a bowl for a fast meal. Loaded with vegetables and chicken, this dish provides many vitamins and minerals your body needs every day. The variety of flavors and textures are very satiating and leave you feeling great. Grab a bowl for lunch, and you’ll have plenty of energy to push through your hectic afternoon schedule.
Tip: The recipe can easily be altered to different tastes by selecting a different soup mix flavor.
We used Maggi’s “Sopa Criolla Gallina Con Fideos” for our package of soup mix and the nutrition information includes the nutrients from this flavor.
Red & Black BeansBy Steve PageRed & Black Beans - Instant Pot is basically a simple combination of the red bean and black bean recipes. We use this recipe often, as we like the color combination. When using red & black beans on tostadas or in beans and rice the two colors help give the dish a better presentation and appealing to the eye. Oh, and they taste great too!
Using the instant pot reduces the cook time and saves on energy while creating perfect been firmness. Red & Black Beans - Instant Pot is another extremely affordable recipe that takes minimal time to cook. In addition, it makes a large amount, which is great! It is always nice to have some ready for another meal or two.
Rice – Instant PotBy Steve PageRice is very simple and is one of the most frequent things we cook. Rice is a staple in Costa Rica and is included in one form or another in every casado (typical Costa Rican plate). It is used to make Arroz Con Pollo and Gallo Pinto, as well as in soups. Although you can make these dishes with fresh rice, it is common to make large batches and add the leftover rice to meals over the next few days. Gallo Pinto is almost always made with rice that was cooked a day or two prior.
Using the electric pressure cooker reduces cook time and saves energy while creating perfect sticky rice firmness. Rice - Electric Pressure Cooker is another extremely affordable recipe that takes minimal time to cook. In addition, it makes a large amount for use in other meals. This recipe will produce approximately ten servings of plain rice.Chicken & Camote – Electric Pressure CookerBy Nikki PageChicken & Camote - Electric Pressure Cooker is another quick and easy recipe that produces a very nutritious meal. Not only is Chicken & Camote packed with nutrients, but is extremely affordable too! Camote is sweet, so it compliments the savory flavors of the chicken perfectly.
We recommend adding a bright colored slaw, or fruit salad to increase the visual presentation of the dish.
