Guatemalan Caribbean Food — Rice and Beans

You cannot get more Caribbean than Rice and Beans. —Manolo, Montreal

The Garí­funas, the black Guatemalans living in the Caribbean shores of Lí­vingston and Puerto Barrios, Izabal, make an exquisite meal from rice, beans, coconut milk, tomatoes and herbs. Garí­funas called it “Rice and Beans”; yes, in English. This meal has several variations and names in the different Caribbean communities. For instance in Cuba, Rice and Beans dish is known as Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians). Other names include “Gallo Pinto”/Spotted Rooster (Nicaragua and/or Costa Rica) and Casamiento/Marriage (El Salvador and Honduras).

Some people believe that rice and beans is the ultimate comfort food. I agree. Fortunately in Antigua Guatemala we can get the original Garifuna style rice and beans so we don’t have to drive all the way up to Lí­vingston.

As I have mentioned before, rice and beans are an integral part of the Guatemalan diet, sometimes as side dishes and many more times as the main plate. ¡Buen provecho!

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