They’re made by wrapping corn dough and a vegetable/meat filling inside a banana leaf, then steaming this package until the contents are cooked. The banana leaf is held together by some string tied in a bow, making the tamales look like tiny presents!
Coming from New York, my standards for food are high. But I must say I was blown away by my experiences with food here. When I first tried gallo pinto, for example, I was extremely surprised. For such a simple-looking dish, it tasted so delicious! Not to mention the fact that gallo pinto is packed with vitamins--so great for your health.
For me, the food here finds the perfect balance between nourishing your body and satisfying your taste buds. Living here has taught me that eating healthily doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor.
Preparing most of these dishes involves traditional cooking methods that have been passed down through generations. My host mom’s recipe for tamales was passed down from her great grandmother!
Food is deeply connected to the local environment, here. It’s not uncommon for Costa Ricans to source their ingredients straight from the backyard! When my host mom wants to make plantains, for instance, we walk to one of the trees outside and cut down plantains from the tree with a machete. For vegetables, we turn to family members with vegetable farms. For eggs, we go to our next door neighbor who has a chicken coop.
