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Salsa Lizano. You see it on almost every restaurant table in Costa Rica. That small brown bottle with the green and red logo. But what is it? And why is it so popular?
What Is Salsa Lizano?
Salsa Lizano. You’ll see it everywhere in Costa Rica. This delicious concoction is a brown (vegetable-based) sauce that’s very similar to steak sauce, only thinner. And Lizano of course, is the brand name (now owned by Unilever, according to the label).
Not only does Salsa Lizano appear in every eatery in the country, but it’s a staple in home cooking for most people as well.
Lizano is a super brand in Costa Rica, producing not only the famed Salsa Lizano, but also Lizano tabasco and Chilero sauce, mayonnaise and even black bean puree (like refried beans) with salsa.
Salsa Lizano has been around since 1920, and that’s a long time!
Salsa Lizano and I Go Way Back…
I’m not going to beat around the bush. I enjoy Salsa Lizano very much. I fell in love with it on my first trip to Costa Rica in 1984 over a plate of gallo pinto late one night after a high school basketball game.
My AFS brother at the time could make a mean gallo pinto. He went all out, adding scrambled egg and chorizo to the rice and beans. And of course, Salsa Lizano. Hmmm, this salsa stuff was pretty good I thought, as I added more.
It was really good. Just popping the cap and taking a whiff is enough to make your mouth water.
Lizano has a unique flavor. It’s not like a barbecue sauce, but more like something you’d find in a steakhouse, with a slight hint of curry flavor (it doesn’t contain curry, by the way).
It’s fantastic on rice and beans and also tasty as a marinade for meat. Especially thin, pan-fried steak with onions!
It’s also used to flavor tamales. Eggs. Picadillos (which are all in one meat and veggie dishes). Chicken. And pretty much anything else you can think of.
I honestly can’t imagine refried black beans without a little bit of Lizano for flavor. It gives the beans a very distinct flavor, that’s very Costa Rican. Probably why Lizano decided to market the premade beans in a pouch, ready to serve.
How Has Salsa Lizano Defined the Flavor of Costa Rican Cuisine?
As I mentioned, when you come to Costa Rica, you will see Lizano on almost any restaurant table in Costa Rica. This is how many visitors discover this addictive sauce, especially when it’s in front of them at every meal.
So, is a bottled sauce actually defining the flavor of Costa Rican cuisine?
Well, yes and no.
In Costa Rica, you’re just as apt to become attached to any one of hundreds of unique flavors. There were so many tastes that I’d never experienced, a good many became specific as Costa Rican flavors. For example, guava. Even though it’s grown in many different places in the world, for me guava is a very Costa Rican flavor. As is cilantro, or cas (the Costa Rican guava), chicharrones and hundreds of other dishes.
Many main true Costa Rican dishes are enhanced specifically with Salsa Lizano. Gallo pinto (rice and beans cooked with aromatics) almost always has a dash of Lizano. Traditional tamales are seasoned with it, as are meat or bean filled empanadas and more. But remember, Salsa Lizano is a Costa Rican invented product, made from ingredients in Costa Rica. So, while you are tasting a product that’s now mass produced, it’s a true Tico food.
And it tastes like nothing else.
When you pop the cap on a bottle, the smell will make your mouth water. And that can’t be bad.
Getting Your Lizano Fix
So, you’ve tried Salsa Lizano and decided you can’t live without it and want to bring back a truckload, eh?
Luckily you can buy Salsa Lizano at any supermarket in Costa Rica, but if you forget to buy it, not to fear: it’s also sold right at the airport. That’s right. Between the coffee, the duty-free shops and the souvenirs, you’ll find a nice display of Salsa Lizano!
That’s how popular this sauce is. The tourists go scrambling for it, and I have too! Each trip to Costa Rica includes Lizano on my supermarket shopping list.
Another cool thing about Salsa Lizano is it comes in so many sizes, right from the giant bottle to the tiny table size. These bottles are inexpensive and make excellent gifts to bring home.
If you’re in the States and missing your Lizano fix, you can buy Salsa Lizano right here.
Salsa Lizano Tips
When you purchase your Salsa Lizano, you’ll notice it’s sealed. Awesome for the trip!
Once you open it, you do not need to refrigerate it. Just keep it sealed in your cupboard. Lizano Sauce has a fairly long shelf-life and the expiration date should be printed on the bottle.
It’s a relatively low-calorie product, fat-free, and low sugar.
Shake it gently before using.
And most of all, enjoy! Salsa Lizano has a flavor you won’t find in any other sauce.