Casado (Costa Rican Lunch Plate with Steak and Onions)
In short: The classic Costa Rican plate: steak with onions and tomato beside rice, black beans, fried sweet plantain and a crisp cabbage salad. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 760 kcal
Casado means married, and the name describes rice and beans served together with everything else on one plate. It is the standard Costa Rican lunch, served in family kitchens and in neighborhood sodas, the small local restaurants. A typical plate has rice, black beans, a protein such as steak with onions or chicken, fried ripe plantain and a simple cabbage salad. This steak and onions version comes together in under an hour.
Instructions
- Toss the cabbage, tomato and carrot with the lime juice and salt. Chill until serving.
- Season the steak with the salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over high heat and sear the beef in two batches for 1 to 2 minutes each until browned. Set aside.
- Lower the heat to medium and add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Cook the onions and bell pepper for 8 minutes until soft, then stir in the garlic and tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes.
- Return the beef and its juices to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and lime juice and adjust the seasoning.
- Fry the plantain slices in the 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until deep golden and caramelized. Drain on paper towels.
- Warm the rice and beans. Divide them among 4 plates with the steak, plantain and salad.
Tips
- Casado is flexible. Swap the steak for grilled chicken, fried fish or pork chops and keep the sides the same.
- Simmer the beans with a little onion and garlic for more flavor, and keep some of their liquid so they stay saucy.
Questions and answers
What does casado mean?
It means married. The name comes from the pairing of rice and beans, served together with a protein and sides on one plate.
What is usually on a casado?
Rice, black beans, a protein such as beef, chicken, pork or fish, fried ripe plantain and a cabbage or green salad. Some plates also have picadillo, tortillas or a fried egg.
Can I make casado ahead of time?
Yes. Cook the parts up to 2 days ahead and store them separately. Reheat them and assemble the plates, and dress the salad fresh.
How long does it take to make Casado (Costa Rican Lunch Plate with Steak and Onions)?
About 55 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Casado (Costa Rican Lunch Plate with Steak and Onions)?
About 760 kcal per serving, with 44 g of protein, 97 g of carbohydrates and 22 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 760 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 44 g |
| Carbohydrates | 97 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 14 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
