Chifrijo

Country Of Origin: Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Chifrijo is a beloved and distinctive dish from Costa Rica that perfectly captures the country’s tradition of flavorful comfort food and creative combinations. The dish is typically assembled in a layered style inside a bowl, starting with a foundation of fluffy white rice. On top of the rice comes a generous serving of savory beans that have been slowly simmered with spices, giving them a rich and hearty taste. The next layer features chicharrón—crispy, golden pieces of fried pork that add both crunch and depth of flavor. To balance the richness, a fresh and zesty pico de gallo, made from diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime, and peppers, is spooned over the pork. Finally, the dish is completed with crunchy tortilla chips, either layered directly into the bowl for texture or served on the side to scoop up the mix like a dip.

Fun Fact: The very name chifrijo reflects its origins, as it is a playful fusion of the words chicharrón and frijo (short for frijol, the Spanish word for beans). This blend of two iconic ingredients perfectly describes the heart of the dish.

History: Chifrijo’s story begins in the 1990s, when it was created by Miguel Ángel Cordero Araya, a bar owner in San José, Costa Rica’s capital city. What started as a creative bar snack to accompany drinks quickly grew in popularity, spreading beyond Cordero’s establishment and becoming a staple in bars, cantinas, and casual eateries across the country. Today, it is considered a quintessential Costa Rican comfort food—enjoyed not only as a filling snack with a cold beer but also as a dish that brings together friends and family. Its enduring appeal lies in its balance of textures and flavors: hearty, crispy, fresh, and tangy all in one bowl.

Our Favorite Recipe: https://foreignfork.com/chifrijo/

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