Ten Foods and Drinks Worth Visiting Nicaragua For
As the tourism booms here, charming restaurants are springing up to line the streets of of Managua, Granada, Leon and other destinations in Nicaragua. While these restaurants bring new culinary delights to the area, some of the best (and most authentic) foods and beverages are accessible right in Nicaragua’s delightful parkside kiosks, rural villages, and roadside stands. These stands are known as ‘fritangas.’ Eat your lunch in the park, or spend your evening strolling through the city for some excellent local flavor. Here are the ten food and drink options that you must treat yourself to visiting Nicaragua:1. Vigorón
This classic dish from Granada is both filling and delicious. Vigorón consists of boiled yucca, fried pork skins, cabbage slaw, vinegar, and chilé (optional) all wrapped in giant plantain leaves. Vigorón is best enjoyed in Granada’s central park or at one of the secret food stands tucked into Calle Comercio, just north of the park.
Vigorón is a Nica favorite
2. Gallo Pinto
Enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! This Nicaraguan staple never gets old. Comprised of white rice, black beans, and a little bit of sazón, or seasoning, Gallo Pinto is the perfect complement to any meal. Locals prefer to have it with eggs and strong Nicaraguan coffee.
Gallo pinot is enjoyed with any meal
3. Tostones
These fried plantains make a delicious snack or addition to any Nicaraguan meal. To make tostones, simply slice unripened plantains, fry them for a few minutes, smash them, and then fry them again. Try them with cheese, beans, (or both), and then top them with a spicy pickled-onion mixture known here as ‘chile,’ for an extra kick!
Tostones make a great snack!
4. Nacatamales
Most commonly available on weekends, this country-wide specialty varies slightly depending on where you are. Generally, nacatamale makers mix cornmeal with lard or chicken stock to form ‘masa,’ the somewhat doughy base of this dish. The most common meat in a nacatamale is pork, although some variations use beef or chicken. Onion, tomato, peppers, rice, and seasonings are added to the masa before it is wrapped in a plantain leaf and steamed. Because preparing nacatamales can take two days, the preparation is often a family-wide affair. If you are lucky enough to try a delicious nacatamale, be sure to thank your host for their hard work!
Nactamales and Nica coffee
5. Coffee
Head north to the coffee plantations surrounding Estelí and Matagalpa for world-class artisanal coffee and coffee farm tours. Treat yourself to some strong, dark Nicaraguan coffee and enjoy the hilly scenery as you sip. Although not exclusive to Nicaragua, some excellent coffees are made here. Café las Flores and Segovia are two popular Nicaraguan brands that sell coffee both locally and internationally.
Nicaragua produces some of the best coffee in the world
6. Pitahaya
Known as ‘dragonfruit’ in English, you would never guess that this juicy fruit grows from a cactus. This bright purple fruit tastes both sweet and sour and presents with a very smooth texture. You will find pitahayas for sale in the markets throughout the country and in ‘refrescos’ or juices/smoothies at restaurants and roadside stands. They are rumored to have excellent nutritional benefits.
Fresh dragonfruit
7. Quesillo
A bit like a quesadilla, quesillo is a fresh mozzarella-like cheese served in tortillas with cream and the optional pickled onion ‘chile’ mentioned above. Quesillo is easy to find and serves as a perfect snack or lunch on the go.
Quesillo and tortilla is a quintessentially Nicaraguan snack
8. Toña
Toña is the classic Nicaraguan beer. This ice-cold smooth lager is the perfect addition to a day on the beach or a fun night exploring the town. From luxury hotels to convenience stores, you can find them just about anywhere!
Enjoy a Toña… or three
9. Ceviche
Nicaragua serves this classic coastal dish mostly along the beaches, but restaurants in Granada and Managua also make delicious versions. Ceviche involves fresh seafood (fish, shrimp, conch, or octopus) marinated in lime juice with onion, herbs, avocado, and spices. Wherever you go, a fresh ceviche is never a bad idea, especially when paired with an ice-cold Toña.
Ceviche
10. Flor de Caña
If you’re still hungry or thirsty, this Nicaraguan rum can put an end to both. This quality rum is available worldwide, but, like they say about Guinness in Ireland, it is best to enjoy it in the homeland. The rum is available in a wide variety of batches ranging from 4-year to 18-year.
The national rum of Nicaragua
There are many more amazing food and beverage specialties in Nicaragua, but this list should get you started. Provecho y Salud! Bon appetit and cheers!
