Campfire Cast-Iron Gallo Pinto with Fried Eggs and Salsa Lizano

Set a cast-iron skillet over a bed of medium campfire coals or a camp stove and let it heat until a drop of water sizzles instantly.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 3 cups day-old cooked white rice
• 2 cups cooked black beans, plus 1/4 cup of their liquid
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 tablespoons Salsa Lizano (or Worcestershire sauce as a substitute)
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 ripe plantains, sliced (optional, for serving)

Instructions

1. Set a cast-iron skillet over a bed of medium campfire coals or a camp stove and let it heat until a drop of water sizzles instantly.
2. Add 2 tablespoons oil, then the onion and bell pepper; cook, stirring, until softened and lightly charred at the edges, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds.
3. Add the black beans with their liquid and the Salsa Lizano, stirring to coat and letting the liquid reduce for 2 minutes.
4. Fold in the day-old rice and toss constantly until every grain is tinted by the beans and heated through, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in most of the cilantro.
5. Push the gallo pinto to one side, add the remaining oil to the clear space, and fry the eggs until the whites set and the yolks stay runny.
6. If using plantains, fry the slices in a little extra oil until golden and caramelized on both sides.
7. Divide the gallo pinto among plates, top each with a fried egg, and scatter the remaining cilantro over the top with plantains alongside.
8. Gallo pinto — literally 'spotted rooster' for the way the beans fleck the rice — is the heartbeat of a Costa Rican morning, and it turns out beautifully over a campfire because a well-seasoned cast-iron pan gives the rice those crisp, smoky edges Ticos prize. Cooking it outdoors on a summer trip channels the pura vida spirit of a country where breakfast is unhurried, communal, and always finished with a cup of strong coffee.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 430 kcal
• Protein: 16g
• Fat: 15g
• Carbohydrates: 58g
• Fiber: 9g
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 620mg