Casado

Casado is a traditional lunch dish that consists of black beans, rice, tortillas, and meat or fish. The phrase literally means "married," which perfectly characterizes the buffet dish showcasing Costa Rica's greatest goods.

The cuisine was invented in the early 1960s by San Jose laborers searching for a cheap supper; it's commonly eaten at a local restaurant called sodas, where the head of the kitchen serves the dish to guests as if he or she were serving their family at home.

A Costa Rican staple, you can find this dish anywhere in Costa Rica. The best casados can be found in small, family-run sodas or discover an elevated plate in fancier hotels.

Ingredients:

4 pork chops; Salt and pepper, to taste; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; vegetable oil, for frying; 1/2 cup beef broth; 2 ripe plantains, peeled and sliced; 1 small head of lettuce (Iceberg); 1 sliced tomato; 1 carrot, grated; vinaigrette, to dress the salad; 3 cups white rice, cooked; 3 cups black beans, cooked; 4 eggs, fried or hard-boiled; 1 cup queso fresco, sliced; tortillas, as preferred

Instructions:

• Begin by seasoning the pork chops with salt, pepper, and garlic. In a large skillet, heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat and cook the pork as desired on each side. Then 'deglaze' the same pan (create a sauce from the drippings) by adding 1/2 cup beef broth and bring to a boil. Let reduce to 1/3 cup and set aside.

• In a separate frying pan, fry the plantain slices in a bit of oil until golden brown.

• Meanwhile, prepare the salad by combining the grated carrot and tomato slices. Season with salt, pepper, and vinaigrette; set aside.

• To assemble, cover four large plates with banana leaves and place the prepared portions side-by-side: one pork chop with a little salsa for each dish, with a serving of fried plantains to the side, followed by salad, rice, beans, one fried or a hard-boiled egg and some slices of queso fresco. Make sure to have plenty of tortillas ready as well.

• Serve immediately with a good cup of Costa Rican coffee or ice cold cervezas on a hot day.