Gallo pinto or gallopinto is a traditional dish of Nicaragua and Costa Rica made with rice and beans. The history of gallo pinto is not well known, and there are disputes between Costa Ricans and Nicaraguans about where the dish originated. One theory suggests that gallo pinto was brought into Latin America by African slaves that migrated into Latin America . Most Latin Americans agree that the dish is part of both countries now and that they share more similarities than differences. Variations of gallo pinto are popular in many countries close to the Caribbean.
Gallo pinto means "spotted rooster" in Spanish. The name is said to originate in the multi-colored or speckled appearance that results from cooking the rice together with black or red beans. Beans are quickly cooked until the juice is almost consumed.