Nicaraguan Gallo Pinto
White rice and red beans are cooked separately, then combined with onion, garlic, sweet pepper, and oil. Serves 6; preparation amounts and times are estimates.
Gallo pinto is an everyday dish in Nicaragua, made with rice and beans. This version combines cooked red beans with long-grain white rice, sautéed onion and garlic, and sweet pepper. The beans need to soak ahead of time.
Method
- 01
Soak the beans
Cover the red beans with cold water and leave them to soak overnight. Drain them before cooking.
480 min - 02
Cook the beans
Put the drained beans in a pot with enough fresh water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat. Cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes, or until the beans are tender; if they are still firm, keep cooking.
30 min - 03
Cook the rice
Heat part of the oil in a pot. Add two-thirds of the onion and the garlic and sauté for about 6 minutes, until soft and translucent. Stir in the rice and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring. Add the 3 cups of water and the green sweet pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook over low heat until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
- 04
Combine and serve
Heat the remaining oil in a wide pan or pot. Add the remaining onion and cook until soft. Stir in the cooked beans and rice. Mix gently and cook over low heat until hot throughout and the flavors have melded.
Ingredients
Sources and review
Content researched, cross-checked and automatically validated. Sources consulted:
- Higiene de los alimentos www.aesan.gob.es/seguridad-alimentaria/higiene-alimentos
- Cooking for the Patria: The Seccion Femenina and the Politics of Food and Women during the Franco Years | OpenAlex openalex.org/W2124125032
- Gallo pinto - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo_pinto
- Nicaraguan Gastronomy: Typical Dishes and Traditional Recipes www.mapanicaragua.com/en/gastronomy/
- Nicaraguan Food | Taste of Paradise | Rancho Santana ranchosantana.com/es/blog/nicaraguan-food/
- Delicious and traditional recipes from Nicaragua en.recetas-nicaragua.com/
- Food in Nicaragua: traditional dishes you must try passporterapp.com/en/blog/nicaragua/food-in-nicaragua/
- Nicaraguan cuisine - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaraguan_cuisine
- What to Eat in Nicaragua: A Traveler’s Guide to Nicaraguan Cuisine - Costa Dulce Beach www.costadulcebeach.com/post/what-to-eat-in-nicaragua-a-travelers-guide-to-nicaraguan-cuisin…
- 12 must try Nicaraguan dishes | Backpack Me bkpk.me/12-must-try-nicaraguan-dishes/
- - YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsoGjTc48XI
- 664 recetas muy ricas de nicaragua compartidas por cocineros caseros- Cookpad cookpad.com/es/buscar/nicaragua
- Recetas desde Nicaragua (+Fotos) www.cubahora.cu/blogs/cocina-de-cuba/recetas-desde-nicaragua
State: Published after documentary validation; no “Tested” label is shown.