Food of Nicaragua
Nicaraguan food is built on corn, beans and rice, with grilled meats, fresh cheese and tropical fruits. Gallo pinto is the daily staple, and nacatamales and vigoron are classic favorites. Dishes are hearty and mildly spiced, often served with fried cheese and cabbage salad.
- Main dishes (8)
- Breakfast (3)
- Street food (3)
- Soups (2)
- Salads (2)
- Desserts and sweets (4)
- Drinks (4)
- Fruits and produce (6)
Staples
- corn
- red beans
- rice
- plantains
- pork
- beef
- cheese
- yuca
Signature flavors
- achiote
- sour orange
- cilantro
- garlic
- chile
- cumin
Main dishes
Rice and red beans fried with onion.
Key ingredients: rice, red beans, onionFull guide →
Large tamale of pork, rice and potato in banana leaf.
Key ingredients: masa, pork, potato, achiote
Yuca, cabbage slaw and pork rinds.
Key ingredients: yuca, cabbage, chicharron
Shredded beef and masa stew.
Key ingredients: beef, masa, tomato, mint
Slow-steamed beef, plantain and yuca.
Key ingredients: beef, plantain, yuca
Grilled marinated beef.
Key ingredients: beef, lime
Tortilla with cheese, onions and cream.
Key ingredients: tortilla, cheese, cream
Mixed grilled meats with sides.
Key ingredients: beef, pork, fried cheeseBreakfast
Eggs, gallo pinto and cheese.
Key ingredients: eggs, gallo pinto, cheeseFresh curd cheese.
Key ingredients: milkCornmeal cheese rings.
Key ingredients: corn, cheeseStreet food
Fried green plantain with cheese.
Key ingredients: plantain, cheese
Fried plantain with cheese.
Key ingredients: plantainPork with yuca.
Key ingredients: pork, yucaSoups
Cheese and vegetable soup.
Key ingredients: cheese, potatoTripe soup.
Key ingredients: tripeSalads
Cabbage salad.
Key ingredients: cabbage, tomato, vinegarBeet and potato salad.
Key ingredients: beets, potatoDesserts and sweets
Famous milk cake.
Key ingredients: sponge, milksFull guide →Coconut sweet.
Key ingredients: coconut, sugarFruits in syrup.
Key ingredients: fruit, sugarSweet custard.
Key ingredients: milk, eggs, cinnamonDrinks
Roasted corn and cacao drink.
Key ingredients: corn, cacao, sugarCorn and cacao cold drink.
Key ingredients: corn, cacao, sugarCold drink of cacao.
Key ingredients: cacao, milk
Hibiscus drink.
Key ingredients: hibiscusFull guide →Fruits and produce
Seasonal staple.
Tart plum-like fruit.
Sweet orange fruit.
Grown locally.
Sweet and juicy.
Dragon fruit.
Full guide →Dish guides from Nicaragua
More cuisines of Central America
Descriptions written by Intercontinental Chef. Dishes are listed as commonly eaten today; many are shared across neighbouring countries.
- Gallo Pinto: Gmasmcal, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Nicaraguan Nacatamal: MiguelRamirez77, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- VIGORON: Nicaraguan food, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
- Indio-viejo-nicaraguense: MiguelRamirez77, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Mairie de Baho (66): Indif, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Carne asada (4472586086): Daniel R. Blume from Toledo, Ohio, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Quesillo a la plancha: Ulises Estrada, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Fritanga barranquillera: Jdvillalobos, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Tostones: AMartiniouk, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Pastel de Tres Leches: @joefoodie, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Pinolillo 2: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Hibiscus tea: Emna Mizouni, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Mangos - single and halved: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Jocote: Jorge Mejía peralta from Managua, Nicaragua, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- ARS- Pouteria sapota: Unknown, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
- കൈതച്ചക്ക: Suniltg at Malayalam Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Dragon fruit (Pitaya): Nakna06, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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