The Casado: the married man
Costa Rica is not known and recognized for its
gastronomy. This doesn't mean that gourmets (and gourmands) won't be able to treat themselves during their stay.
The abundance of varied fruits and vegetables all year round is in itself an inexhaustible source of recipes!
But let's get back to the famous Casado! A dish you'll find in every Soda, those typical little restaurants where you can eat well for little money. This dish is always composed of white rice, black beans, plantains that are pan-fried and lightly caramelized, and a salad (which differs according to the region: red cabbage, grated carrots, macedonia), red onions and coriander, all seasoned with lemon juice. Then, as you wish, you can add chicken, fried fish, beef or pork.
This dish originated in colonial times, but was democratized in the 60s. Already used in a variety of dishes, rice, black beans and meat were reserved for an elite, meat being a rare and expensive commodity. With the industrialization of agriculture in Costa Rica and the advent of cattle and pig farming, this dish became more widespread throughout the country, but particularly in San José.
The influx of workers and the capital's significant population growth led to the opening of numerous restaurants. With workers looking for an economical, quick and complete meal, this dish was a great success.
Origin
But where does his name come from? The Casado (married man)! There are many theories, some more far-fetched than others! My favorite is that this recipe represents a harmonious marriage, with many touches of flavor, but also a compromise between proteins, starches and vegetables!
This dish was also intended for workers and tradesmen (mostly men) and therefore for "casados", married men!
But let's get down to business! We couldn't leave you in the lurch without sharing this recipe with you!
Don't hesitate to send us your photos or reviews of this recipe 😉
Ingredients for a casado (serves 4):
- About 100g black beans
- About 200g cooked rice
- 3 onions, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 1 sprig chopped coriander
- 1 sweet bell pepper
- Chopped cabbage
- English" sauce, or any other sauce you like. After all, casado is all about blending!
- Vegetable oil
- 1 plantain banana
- Meat or fish
Preparing the casado :
- In a saucepan, sauté a little vegetable oil, the chopped onion, bell pepper and garlic until golden-brown.
- Add the black beans (already cooked) and, in a little stock, let the beans absorb the flavour of the vegetables over a low heat.
- In a separate pan, fry the plantain (seasoned and cut lengthwise) and place the chopped onions on top. Cook over a low heat for 10-15 minutes. The idea is for the banana to be juicy and tender at the same time.
- You can also cook your meat or fish to your own taste and preference.
- Finally, to present the dish, serve the beans sautéed with vegetables, make a small pile of rice (a small bowl will serve as a mold), the platin banana mixed with the onions. Sprinkle the whole dish with coriander, celery, your choice of sauce, and finally, the cabbage.
