Gallo Pinto (meaning “spotted rooster”) is a traditional Costa Rican breakfast dish, relying on leftover rice and beans and topped with fried eggs. We’ve taken a few liberties to make this meal more dinner-worthy, but it would be delicious any time of day. Smarts: Toppings make this dish extra delish, so feel free to add more or customize them to suit your taste!
Beans, black (14 oz / 397 g)
- 1 can
, drained and rinsed
Oil, cooking
- 1 Tbsp
Cumin, ground
- 1 tsp
Paprika, smoked
- 1/2 tsp
Cooked rice (leftover from Monday)
- ~3 cups
Soy sauce, low-sodium
- 1 1/2 Tbsp
Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp
Lime juice
- 2 tsp
Salsa, any type
- 1/2 cup
, for serving
(sub hot sauce)
Fried Eggs:
Oil, cooking
- 1 Tbsp
Eggs
- 4
Prep
Bell peppers / Onions / Garlic - Prep as directed. Store bell peppers and onions together in one container. Store garlic in its own separate container. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Zucchini - Prep as directed. (Can be done up to 3 days ahead)
Heat a wok or deep saute pan with cooking oil (portion for gallo pinto) over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers, onions, and zucchini with a pinch of salt and saute until nearly tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
Stir in garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika and saute until fragrant, ~1 to 2 minutes more.
Fold in rice, beans, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Toss everything together and stir fry until everything is heated through, ~2 minutes. Remove from heat and fold in lime juice. Taste and season with some salt and pepper or more lime juice, if needed. Cover to keep warm while the eggs cook.
Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add cooking oil (portion for eggs) and then crack eggs into heated oil. Cook eggs on one side until whites are set and yolks are still a bit runny, 4 to 6 minutes. (If you’d like the eggs more cooked, flip and cook on the other side.)
Divide Gallo Pinto among serving bowls. Top each serving with avocado slices, cilantro, and a fried egg and serve with salsa for spooning over top. Enjoy with sliced oranges on the side.