Gallo Pinto (Costa Rican Beans and Rice)

Gallo Pinto is literally translated as "spotted rooster" but it’s also the nick name for Costa Rican beans and rice.  Here is my attempt (with apologies to my Tico friends out there!) after finding a key ingredient... Salsa Lizano on Amazon.  This is often a breakfast dish.  I like it with a fried egg on top, both for the irony of an egg on top of “spotted rooster” but also because the yolk soaks in as you eat.  You can also add a little sour cream to your serving if you’d like.  Pura Vida!

Ingredients

3 C         Cooked rice, leftover is preferred 

1 Can       Black beans including liquid

1             Red Pepper

1             Medium Onion 

2            Cloves Garlic 

¼ C         Salsa Lizano (add extra to taste)

¼ C        Fresh Cilantro

Instructions

Chop onion and pepper in a small dice and sauté until onion is translucent, 6-8 minutes.  Chop garlic fine and add to onion and peppers and sauté an additional 2 minutes.  Add beans with liquid from can and Salsa Lizano and simmer together 5 minutes (if you don’t have Salsa Lizano you can use Worcestershire Sauce and a half teaspoon of cumin, which I've tried and it's alright but not the same).  Stir in rice and finely chopped cilantro, heat through and serve.