Street Snack – a rundown of Costa Rica’s festival
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When you see workers setting up the local bullring, you know the fiestas are rolling into town – and with them, the Costa Rican street food vendors. Here are some of the typical street foods you’ll almost definitely catch a whiff of around the bullring and the carnival rides.
1.Chorreadas
These are delicious Costa Rican corn pancakes served warm. They usually come with fresh natilla – or sour cream – and they are one of the country’s culinary claims-to-fame.
2. Arroz Cantones
Costa Rican fried rice was introduced by the large Chinese immigrant population, but became so popular that it is now considered one of the country’s typical foods. There is something in it for everyone: ham, chicken, shrimp, pork. For vegetables, most recipes call for scallions, celery, bean sprouts, and sweet peppers; and don’t forget the soy sauce, which gives it its color.
Fun Fact: In 2013, 52 chefs and 20 assistants, representing 35 restaurants, went down in the Guinness Book of World Records for largest plate of fried rice. The plate weighed 1.3 tons, and was created in celebration of Chinese New Year.
3. Pupusas
Pupusas hail from El Salvador, but you can find street vendors cooking up these corn tortillas filled with pork, cheese and refried beans at almost all fresh food markets and fiestas throughout Costa Rica. They are usually served with spicy cabbage fermented in vinegar.
4. Elote con Mantequilla
Corn on the cob. This one is pretty self-explanatory.
5. Chicharrones
Chicharrones are downright delicious. There are two varieties: crunchy and not crunchy. The crunchy kind are made from the skin, and people either love them or hate them. The meaty kind is made of delectable pork meat.
6. Churros
A decadent dessert made of fried bread coated in sugar. They are kind of like funnel cakes, but even more amazing.
7. Pinchos
Meat on a stick.
8
. Enyucados
These are very similar to empanadas, but cooked with yucca flour instead of corn or wheat flour. They can be stuffed with anything from chicken and vegetables to pulled beef and cheese. Enyucados are delicious hot pockets of meaty, cheesy goodness.
9. Granizados
Granizados are Costa Rican snow cones. Men in little carts walk around putting shaved ice smothered in sugary syrup, along with powdered and condensed milk, into little cups. These frozen treats are a popular way to cool off and escape the Guanacaste heat at the beach.
