Would you like rice and beans with that? Or what about beans and rice? How about rice with a side of beans? La famosa rice and beans – the perfect breakfast, lunch and supper – it´s the Nicaraguan staple. A cheap way to get your starch and protien. Two pounds of rice and one pound of beans costs $1.07 (american)! This will easily feed a family of 5-10 individuals – or a hungry team Nessa!
And don´t forget the plantains…are they potatos or bananas? Their flavor actaully depends on how ripe they are and how they are prepared – boiled, fried, plantain chips, etc. Depending on the time of day, throw in some amazing local fruit – pineapple, bananas, oranges, mango; some meat – eggs, chicken, beef steak; some more carbs – tortilla (rare), buns, toast. And make sure to add a kick by dousing it in chile, salsa de tomate or lime!
For a special treat, fish fresh out of the Pacific Ocean. And I seriously mean a whole fried fish – head and all! True fish and chips, or should I say fish and fins! You´ll lick your fingers clean after this meal.
So, I love Mexican tamales that are made out of corn flour or masa and wrapped in corn husks. Here in Nicaragua, they are called Tamugas – only they are made out of rice (big suprise) and are wrapped in banana leaves. This is the perfect cheap, meal-in-one for anyone wanting to try out the local cuisine for less than a dollar!
Calling all you coffee lovers. Nicaragua is your country – there are coffee plantations all over the place. Yesterday we toured an organic coffee farm. One coffee bean grows one coffee plant. The plant grows for about 10 years and is then cut back. Each year, it produces white flowers that eventually turn into the coffee beans. They are picked, dried, processed, ground…and ENOYED! Definitely the freshest coffee I´ve ever experienced…accompanied with warm, whole milk straight from a cow…amazing!
And the most important part of Latin American cuisine is the cook and their hospitaliy. We have been blessed with our own cocinera (cook). Gracias a Abuelita Margarita! We are definitely not leaving Nicaragua hungry!
Food is an integral part of a county´s culture. Discovering new tastes and flavors is a daily experience. For a foodie like me, it´s an exciteing and interactive way of exploring the heart of the people. A lot of times it is a direct reflection of the land, the people, the economic status, and attitude of the culture. Nicaraguan food is simple. It comes from the land…from the work of thier hands…from the chicken running around outside thier homes…from the pig chained by their bed…from the mango tree out their front door… ¡Buen Provecho!
