A fantastic way to experience the local flavors of Costa Rica, is with a cold drink and a “boca*” in a typical cantina. This particular boca recipe is said to have originated from a bar in Tibas. It is a tasty layered dip that combines soft and crunchy textures—a perfect foundation for soaking up more cold beverages.
Bocas were traditionally made from whatever offerings were present in the kitchen, and served as little free appetizers. Now they will most likely cost a small amount of colones.
This layered dip combines soft and crunchy textures where the chicharrones (the fried pork can be substituted with shredded chicken) are placed between beans and diced tomatoes.
Ingredients
1 cup of cooked rice
1 and 1/2 cups of cooked red or black beans with liquid
1 and 1/2 cups of diced cooked chicharrones (recipe at the end).
1 whole tomato, diced
1/2 ripe avocado
1 tablespoon of thinly sliced red onion
1 tablespoon of lime juice
Salt, pepper, hot peppers to taste
1 tablespoon of coarsely chopped cilantro leaves
Fried tortilla chips for scooping
Instructions
Find a medium sized bowl to begin layering:
The warm cooked rice.
The beans with liquid.
The diced chicharrones or shredded chicken.
The diced tomato.
The cubed avocado.
The sliced onion.
Sprinkle with lime juice, salt, pepper, hot peppers, to taste.
Garnish with cilantro leaves.
Best enjoyed with crispy tortilla chips
Homemade chicharrones
I like to start with one kilo of pork belly—panzada
Cook bite-size squares and sprinkle with baking soda. Rest for a few hours or overnight. Rinse off the meat and place into non-stick wok with 2 cups of water. Bring to a slow boil on low flame and cook for 1 hour or until the water has evaporated. Raise the heat slightly and fry the meat until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper. You can simply enjoy them with tortillas and squeezed orange-lime juice.
This epic Malaysian curried noodle soup will sweep you far, far away…to the balmy streets of Singapore. The flavorful soup base can be made with chicken, seafood, or vegetarian. This one is made with seafood, my favorite.
Serves 6-8
For the fish cakes
½ kg white fish filet (snapper, mahi, sea bass)
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
1 egg
2 teaspoons of Nam Pla or fish sauce (you can use soy sauce too)
2 teaspoons of Thai red curry paste
1 scallion, thinly sliced
Oil for frying
Directions
Place fish pieces in food processor and pulse with the next 4 ingredients until smooth.
Add the sliced scallions and mix well. White strings can be removed.
Form into small flat patties and fry until golden, like in the photo.
For the stock
1 fish carcass and/or 1 chicken carcass
The shells from 1 kg of large shrimp, save the peeled shrimp for the laksa
8 garlic cloves
1 stalk of lemongrass, white part only
3 cm knobs of galangal and/or ginger
10 kaffir lime leaves (optional or can be substituted with 2 bay leaves)
This is my version of a popular take-out salad found only outside of Vietnam (like the chicken chow mein that you’ll never find in China).
A bowl of rice noodles is topped with strips of grilled beef, lettuce, peanuts, chili peppers, and served with a sweet and tangy fish sauce dressing. This recipe yields 4 to 5 large bowls, the spiciness adjusted to taste and best enjoyed with chopsticks.
For the beef
1 pound or 1/2 kilo of lomito. I recommend using lomito or tenderloin since other cuts might be tough.
5 large cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 tablespoon of finely sliced lemongrass, white part only (optional but so good)
1 small red onion finely chopped
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Marinate the beef for at least 4 hours or overnight. Grill the whole piece on all sides so that the center stays medium rare. Allow to cool and thinly slice.
In this town, we can almost always find the freshest tuna. This colorful salad is so quick and easy; it is a perfect cool lunch dish or a stunning 1st course.
Tuna Instructions
Start with a slab of tuna like this in the photo.
Cube about 200 grams or 1/2 pound of the tuna, and toss with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, 1 tablespoon of honey (or brown sugar), and 1 tablespoon of good quality soy sauce.
Salad ingredients
A bed of salad greens
A handful of ripe and flavorful mango cubes
A handful of ripe avocado cubes
A small amount of thinly sliced scallion greens (too much will overpower) Toasted sesame seeds
A small amount of Japanese sweet bbq sauce or eel sauce to drizzle for finish ( can be substituted with a mixture of soy and honey)
Sesame oil to drizzle
Sliced red chili (optional)
Salad Instructions
Build the salad by layering the greens, the tuna cubes, mango cubes, avocado cubes.
Drizzle with Japanese sweet sauce or homemade mixture of soy and honey.
Top with sesame seeds and scallions.
The seasonings can be adjusted to taste where the main flavors are from the soy sauce, the honey or brown sugar, and the sesame oil.
Sometimes nicknamed “Chindu” cuisine, it’s the result of Chinese immigrants in India who adapted their recipes to local flavors and produced some of the happiest accidents of Asian-fusion.
This sauce combines sweet soy, garlic, ginger, and spicy peppers. Ask your butcher for “muslos deshuesados,” or boneless chicken thighs. They will remain juicy and delicious throughout the cooking and reheating of this dish.
Ingredients for about 6 servings
500 grams of boneless chicken thighs
oil for frying
Finished dish
For the batter
3 tablespoons of cornstarch
2 tablespoons of flour
1/2 teaspoon of powdered cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
3 to 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 tablespoon of grated ginger
1 pinch of salt
1 tablespoon of rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons of water
For the sauce
3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
3 green onions (scallions) thinly sliced
1 jalapeno pepper or more to taste
8 to 10 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of shredded ginger
1/2 small red or green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon of sriracha sauce
1 tablespoon of ketchup
1/2 cup of good quality soy sauce
4 tablespoons of brown sugar
1/2 cup of cold water mixed with 2 teaspoons of cornstarch
Chicken in batter before frying
Directions
Cut the boneless thighs in 1 inch pieces and prepare batter ingredients.
Coat the chicken as seen in picture.
Fry in batches in a shallow pan with the vegetable oil. Drain on paper towels.
Prepare sauce. Heat oil in a pan and fry the green onion, garlic, bell pepper, ginger, and jalapeno until fragrant.
Add the sriracha ketchup, soy sauce, and sugar.
Add the water/cornstarch mixture and heat until the sauce thickens.
Mix in the fried chicken pieces, garnish with cilantro leaves or sliced green onion tops, serve with rice or noodles.
This dish called Mujadara makes me think of a middle eastern version of “gallo pinto.” The caramelized onions are the key and they should cook until they reach the darkest brown without burning. Don’t forget the fun toppings listed below that will add panache to these humble ingredients.
Ingredients
1 cup of green lentils
1/2 cup of olive oil + 2 tablespoons
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon of cracked peppercorns
3 medium red onions thinly sliced
3/4 cup of basmati rice
1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 small knob of ginger (approx 1 tablespoon)
1 small cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
A few teaspoons of lime juice to taste
Directions
Place lentils in a pot with knob of ginger and cinnamon stick. Cover with water by 1 inch and set to boil. When reaches a boil, lower the temperature so the lentils stay whole and simmer for about 20 minutes. They should be cooked but not mushy. Drain in colander.
Heat 1/2 of oil in a frying pan and add cumin seeds, peppercorns and onions. Cook onions until they are dark brown and some are turning crispy. This may take 10-15 minutes. Season with salt.
Remove half of the onions and save them for the very end.
Wash and drain the basmati rice and fry in the onion-cumin-pepper oil for a few minutes then add 3/4 cups of water and let the rice cook.
To assemble the dish, heat 3 tablespoons of oil, add lentils, ground cumin and ground cinnamon, stir in the cooked rice, and finish by topping with the reserved onions, lime juice and any of the following options.
Options
Chopped nuts such as pistachios, almonds, walnuts, cashews.
Chopped dried fruit such as apricots or craisins
Chopped fresh herbs such as cilantro, parsley, or dill
We once had a quaint little Peruvian restaurant downtown Quepos where this became my favorite chicken dish.
It is creamy and spicy with an unusual mix of walnuts, Parmesan, and these orange “aji” peppers that can be found in produce markets from time to time. I have also found this “Ajinka” sauce that I highly recommend to anyone who, like me, enjoys collecting hot sauces.
For 8 portions
3 potatoes
2 large whole boneless chicken breasts (4 halves)
4 cups of chicken broth
4 slices of stale baguette (about 1/2 inch slices) or a similar bread
3 to 4 aji peppers, seeded and roughly chopped
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and roughly chopped
6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons of walnuts
2 eggs
10 black olives, chopped (optional)
3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 can or 1/2 cup of evaporated milk
Directions
Boil potatoes and eggs until cooked. Peel and set aside.
Boil chicken breasts in chicken broth and strain when fully cooked while reserving the stock. Let cool before shredding all of the meat.
Cook the aromatics: onions, garlic, aji peppers in the oilve oil until very fragrant, and then allow to cool.
Meanwhile, soak the bread slices in the evaporated milk.
Place cooked aromatics, leftover stock, bread with milk, and walnuts in a food processor. Blend until smooth.
Return to pan and bring to a slow boil. Stir in the shredded chicken; adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper (I prefer white).
Aji de gallina is usually served with a couple wedges of boiled potatoes, a couple wedges of hard boiled eggs, steamed rice and black olives.
Living in paradise means you’re surrounded with exotic fruits such as the plantain. It is also a versatile cooking ingredient that is less sweet and more starchy then its cousin the banana. We know that they are loaded with brain-boosting nutritious benefits such as potassium, vitamins, magnesium, to name a few…
Here is a little a little snack that is both sweet and savory. I’ve adapted it from a Colombian recipe to be gluten free and possibly vegan if the cheese is substituted with beans.
First you start with a medium ripe plantain.
Peel and boil the plantain for about 20 minutes and allow it to cool.
Drain and mash with a fork.
Add, ¾ cup of corn flour (or masa rica found in stores) and ½ teaspoon of salt.
Mix until you obtain a dry dough that doesn’t stick to your hands.Roll into 8 to 10 little golf ball sizes.
Flatten into circles and place one pinch of shredded cheese (mozzarella is recommended) or one small dollop of refried beans for the vegan option.
Fold over to create a half moon shape, and pinch around the edges to seal.
Fry in cooking oil until golden brown and drain on paper towels.
Sprinkle with a mixture of salt, sugar, and cinnamon and serve.
The compressed fruit pulp of the tamarindus indica tree is available in any produce store. Ask for “tamarindo,” pronounced just like the beach town in Guanacaste, or look for the brown packet as shown in photo.
It is a popular ingredient in south Asian recipes; it has an incomparable blend of sweet and sour best described as a full flavored and complex lime juice. It is packed with anti-oxidants, digestive aids, and vitamins that cover the entire alphabet.
Locally, ticos turn these tasty fruits into refreshing drinks—fresco de tamarindo.
This sauce is excellent with shrimp, fish, or chicken. Crispy garlic and cilantro leaves add the finishing touch that is so popular in Thai dishes.
Ingredients (4 servings)
1 kilo of medium to large shrimp, peeled and veined (can be replaced by boneless fish or chicken)
1 cup of cornstarch for dredging
2 cups of vegetable oil for frying
Salt, pepper, to taste
200 grams or ½ packet of solid tamarind pulp
½ liter of hot water
10 cloves of garlic
½ medium size white onion
2 green onions finely sliced
½ small carrot cut into thin julienne strips
½ small red bell pepper (chile dulce rojo) cut into thin julienne strips
1 red hot pepper (optional)
¼ cup of brown sugar
4 tablespoons of fish sauce (nam pla)
Small amount of fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
Directions
Mix tamarind pulp with hot water so that it becomes loose. Strain with fine sieve. You will need 1/3 cup of the thick liquid, free of seeds and fibers.
Take 5 garlic cloves and thinly slice to deep fry.
Finely chop the other 5 cloves or use a garlic press.
Pour ½ cup of vegetable oil in a small frying pan and fry the garlic slices until they begin to brown. Quickly strain the oil into a larger frying pan with a metal strainer. Be careful because garlic can burn easily.
Dry the shrimp, fish, or chicken before dredging into the cornstarch, salt, and pepper.
Add the rest of the cooking oil to the strained garlic oil to pan fry the shrimp. Fry until golden and set aside on paper towels. Keep warm while making sauce.
In a saucepan, heat a small amount of cooking oil, add the garlic, the carrots, the onions, the green onions, the bell peppers until the vegetables are fragrant. Add tamarind, sugar, and fish sauce.
Pour sauce preparation over the crispy shrimp and garnish with crispy garlic and cilantro leaves. Serve with steamed jasmine rice.
This is a refreshing salad with contrasting colors and textures. Try adding cooked meats, seafood, or roasted veggies for a perfect lunch bowl, or serve it alongside a composed meal.
Ingredients
2 medium cucumbers, partially peeled (little spaces between the peeled strips), sliced lengthwise and then crosswise into little half moons
2 medium tomatoes cut into large chunks
1 thinly sliced red hot pepper (optional)
A few thin slices of red onion, not too much
1 cup of roughly chopped fresh herbs such as cilantro, basil, and mint
1/4 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice
3 tablespoons of white sugar
2 tablespoons of Thai fish sauce (soy sauce for vegan)
1 clove of finely minced garlic
2 tablespoons of chopped peanuts
Phot0: Sarah Yunker
Directions
Make dressing by mixing lime juice, sugar, fish sauce, and garlic.
Place cucumber and tomato slices in a bowl, toss with dressing and herbs. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and serve.
Filed under: Chef's Corner, Desiree Brassert Comments Off on Thai-Style Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Mint, Basil, and Cilantro
If you are able to find a perfect grill, preferably charcoal, don’t hesitate to try these classic Korean culinary delights. The bulgogi meat is sliced thinly and only needs a few hours to marinate. The kimchi is a fun science project to share with kids (and adults) and awaken our foodie curiosity.
Although soy sauce, sesame oil, gojujang paste, ginger and garlic, might not have been readily available in those times, I believe that Gengis Khan and his raiding mongols ate something similar… even the fermented pickled cabbage “kimchi” was essential to their diet.
Homemade Kimchi
Ingredients
1 whole Chinese cabbage (mostaza China) washed, and sliced into 1 inch wedges
½ cup sea salt (sal marina)
4 to 5 minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp of minced ginger
1 tsp of sugar
3 tbsp of water
2 tbsp of Gojujang paste OR 1 tbsp of red chili flakes mixed with 1 tbsp Asian fish sauce
First we must thank John Montagu (1718-1792), the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who had the genius idea of encasing cold meats in between two slices of bread so that he didn’t break from the gambling tables for a snack.
Of all the inventive meat-and-bread creations since this historical milestone, the Vietnamese Banh Mi is one of my favorites. Fresh and crusty bread, and the sweet pickled carrots and cucumber (daikon too if available) and cilantro are key, the rest can vary according to taste.
This recipe is the authentic street vendor version.
For the bread
About 9 inches of fresh French baguette cut lengthwise leaving both halves still attached.
For the pickle
¾ cup of shredded carrots
¾ cup of thinly sliced, peeled and seeded cucumber
½ cup shredded daikon, if available
2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons of sugar
¼ teaspoon of salt
Mix all of the above and let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes, drain before using. Read More…
This is a crowd-pleaser, and a creative way to serve leftover chicken (or other proteins). The rice vermicelli, shredded vegetables, sweet, sour, and spicy vinaigrette will make you want to finish the bowl.
Ingredients
1/2 cup good quality soy sauce
4 tablespoons of vegetable oil for sautéing
2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons of brown sugar
5 cloves of garlic, chopped
A small amount of shredded ginger
2 tablespoons of sesame oil
1 package of rice vermicelli—the whole package
1/2 cabbage
1 big Costa Rican carrot, cut into matchsticks
2 stalks of celery, thinly sliced
2 stalks of scallions, thinly sliced
1 thinly sliced hot chili pepper (optional)
1/2 kg of cooked chicken or other meat, sliced thinly.
Directions
Boil water in a large pot for the vermicelli. When pour contents of the package into boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes until soft, strain, set aside.
In a large pan or wok, preferably non-stick, fry the garlic, ginger, and scallions until fragrant in the vegetable oil.
Add the shredded cabbage, and the celery and carrot.
Stir fry the vegetables and then add meats, noodles, brown sugar, and liquid ingredients. Mix all very well and serve warm or cold.
You can garnish with chopped nuts, cilantro, sesame seeds. Yum!
3 stalks of lemongrass (just the bottom white part)
2 cubic inch knob of ginger
2 cubic inch knob of galangal if available
10 cloves of garlic
10 kaffir lime leaves if available
1 Tbsp. lime juice
½ C Nam Pla or Thai fish sauce (vegan version might be available or use light soy sauce)
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 can coconut milk
Finely chopped scallion and cilantro
Siracha or homemade scallion oil (blend the green parts of scallions with good quality, flavorless oil)
Directions
Put the first 6 ingredients in a pot with approximately 2 quarts of water, and boil for one hour until the pumpkin is very soft.
Drain the solids while saving the stock.
Remove and discard lemongrass, ginger galangal, and kaffir lime leaves.
Scoop out the pumpkin flesh from the outer peel and place in blender. Add the cooked garlic cloves and puree with the cooking liquid. The mixture should be smooth.
Now add the lime juice, Nam Pla, brown sugar, and coconut milk. Amounts can be adjusted to taste.
Garnish with a small amount of finely sliced scallion, chopped cilantro, Siracha drops or scallion oil.
I am often asked: what is tofu, and how is it used?
Tofu is a bland looking and bland tasting hunk of soy cheese that nobody should consider a pantry staple unless you’re vegetarian, vegan, or lactose intolerant. But let’s reconsider for a moment. Tofu is actually a magical ingredient that is a shape shifter, a rich protein, a product of coagulated soy milk that can embrace any sauce or flavor, sweet or savory, a vehicle for endless creations… Here is a surprisingly simple appetizer that makes everyone smile before they fall in love with tofu.
Ingredients
1 package of firm tofu
1 handful of bean sprouts
1/2 cup of shredded carrots
Coarsely chopped cilantro leaves
1/4 cup of roughly chopped peanuts
Soy sauce mixed with a little brown sugar for serving
Directions
Place tofu on a few paper towels to air-dry for a couple hours so that the moisture doesn’t make the oil splatter.
Quickly blanche the bean sprouts in boiling water in order to keep their white color. Drain and combine with carrots, cilantro, and peanuts.
Cut tofu carefully into 6 rectangles and deep fry on all sides.
Cut the cubes in half and scoop out a small amount of the soft middle.
Stuff the halves with the bean sprout mixture.
Serve with slightly sweetened soy sauce and you will have a fun appetizer for your vegetarian and vegan friends.
A fantastic way to experience the local flavors of Costa Rica, is with a cold drink and a “boca*” in a typical cantina. This particular boca recipe is said to have originated from a bar in Tibas. It is a tasty layered dip that combines soft and crunchy textures—a perfect foundation for soaking up more cold beverages.
Ingredients
Homemade chicharrones
Tuna Instructions
Toasted sesame seeds
Directions
For 8 portions
Directions
Living in paradise means you’re surrounded with exotic fruits such as the plantain. It is also a versatile cooking ingredient that is less sweet and more starchy then its cousin the banana. We know that they are loaded with brain-boosting nutritious benefits such as potassium, vitamins, magnesium, to name a few…
Directions
