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Traditional Costa Rican Christmas food is probably much different than what you used to eat during the Christmas holidays when you grew up. Getting used to local food in Costa Rica might be more complicated than you think, as Tico’s taste buds are very different from yours (and mine). The use of spices and the main ingredients in Costa Rican Christmas food differ significantly from yours. For Christmas, we typically have duck, deer, rabbit, salmon, or turkey in the Netherlands.
In Canada, Christmas food includes tourtière, butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, perogies, and Brussels sprouts. In the US, Christmas food includes prime rib, roast turkey or duck, Christmas ham, and pecan or pumpkin pie.
Christmas Food In Costa Rica
Christmas dinner in Costa Rica mainly consists of roast pork with rice or mashed potatoes and vegetables. Ticos have their Christmas dinner after Misa de Gallo, the Christmas mass. Those who don’t attend church usually have dinner at 10 pm or earlier.
Let’s go through some typical Costa Rican Christmas foods so you can cook a local-style Christmas dinner in your new home or farm. Do yourself a favor and give it a try. It’s unnecessary to go totally native like I did, but at least give it a shot. You might even think about becoming a Tico or Tica one day.
Rompope
Rompope
El Rompope is a homemade eggnog presented as a traditional Christmas cocktail before Christmas dinner.
Pierna de cerdo asada
Pierna de Cerdo Asada
The traditional Christmas dinner is roast pork or pierna de cerdo asada. Roast pork can be served with a variety of accompaniments, such as rice, beans, and vegetables like chayotes.
Tamal Navideño and salsa Lizano
Tamal Navideño
An essential traditional Costa Rican Christmas food is the Tamal navideño. Traditionally, tamales are cooked during the first weekend of December. Ticos will eat a tamal for breakfast, lunch, or any time during the day. Tamales are now consumed year-round, but are traditionally made for Christmas. They consist of ground corn, pork, carrots, rice, sweet pepper, and achiote, wrapped in a plantain leaf and cooked. Do not eat the plantain leaves.
It is essential to use Salsa Lizano on the tamal.
Salsa Lizano
Salsa Lizano is the most famous Tico sauce. Any Tico swears by it, primarily when used to jazz up Gallo Pinto or a tamal. I know Ticos who will not eat traditional Christmas food without it. This sauce is a bit like Worcestershire sauce. You can purchase Salsa Lizano online.
Queque Navideño
Queque Navideño
El Queque Navideño is a Christmas cake. The typical Costa Rican Christmas cake is rum- and candied-fruit-based. Companies use this cake as a customary Christmas gift, especially to employees.
Manzanas escarchadas
Manzanas Escarchadas
Las Manzanas Escarchadas are candy apples. They are primarily sold at the Fiestas de Zapote during the Christmas season. Ticos like sweet delicacies like candy apples and maní garapiñada a lot.
Maní garapiñado
Mani Garapiñado
El Mani Garapiñado is an almond and hazelnut-covered peanut. It is sold at the Fiestas de Zapote during the Christmas season and is also available in grocery stores.
Churros
Churros
The Costa Rican churros served during the Fiestas de Zapote are typically unfilled and covered in sugar. Often, there is also a choice of caramel or chocolate-filled churros.
Uvas y manzanas
Grapes and Apples
Ticos eat grapes and apples, uvas y manzanas, like crazy during Christmas. It is customary for companies to provide employees with a Christmas basket containing grapes, apples, Christmas cake, and other delicacies. I have not been able to determine the origin of this tradition. Also, 12 grapes are used for their wishes on New Year’s Eve, but more about that in another blog.
I hope you can eat traditional Costa Rican Christmas food with friends and family without going native. I can assure you that making tamales is a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
Buen provecho and happy holidays! In conclusion, do NOT forget to pay your housekeeper and gardener their aguinaldo and wish them happy holidays as well!
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Image by timolina on Freepik
