Barbudos is a simple scrambled egg and green bean recipe from Costa Rica that everyone will enjoy!
About Barbudos
Let’s get one thing out of the way right away. In Spanish, barbudos means “bearded” and I have no idea why this recipe has this name. The barbudo name could be loosely translated as a green bean fritter, with the batter being egg instead of flour.
Barbudos is an extremely popular dish in Costa Rica, but a dish that you won’t find in many Costa Rican restaurants as it is more popular with home cooks.
The dish is perfect, using produce that can be grown at home or found at the Farmer’s Markets. Eggs are easy to come by and high in protein, making this a great recipe for vegetarians. It’s a simple, inexpensive meal or side dish that practically everyone likes.
In Costa Rica, you’ll find that adults and kids alike love barbudos, and if you ask a Costa Rican to make them for you, they will be thrilled.
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Costa Rican Barbudos Recipe
Printable recipe below
Ingredients
- fresh green beans
- eggs
- salt
- cooking oil
Instructions
Fill a 3-quart saucepan with water and salt. Allow to boil. Add the green beans and cook until very tender.
While the green beans are cooking, beat eggs in a shallow dish that is long enough for the green beans to fit.
Spray a frying pan with nonstick cooking oil and heat on medium heat high until warm. While the pan is heating, dip the green beans into the egg mixture until covered.
Place 4 green beans and egg into the pan and begin to fry. If the green beans are not fully covered in egg as in the photo, spoon more egg mixture in until fully covered. Barbudos is almost always made with 4 green beans each.
Cook until one side is almost done, then flip and cook until the egg is fully cooked on the other side.
Substitutions
You could substitute egg whites for the whole egg.
I have used frozen green beans. They aren’t as long sometimes, but they can be put into the egg omelet style and it tastes pretty good!
Related post: Costa Rican Kitchen Guide
Variations
Honestly, there really aren’t any variations on this recipe!
Related post: Costa Rican Casado
What To Serve With Barbudos
Barbudos are often served with fresh corn tortillas. They are popular as a mini-meal, served with traditional white rice and black beans. These would be super fun with a steak and onions, or bistec encebollado.
You can serve this with a traditional homemade Costa Rican juice, or traditional coffee.
Barbudos Costa Rica
Barbudos are a simple scrambled egg and green bean recipe from Costa Rica that everyone will enjoy!
Ingredients
- 16-20 fresh green beans
- 3 eggs eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Cooking oil spray
Instructions
- Fill a 3-quart saucepan with water and salt. Allow to boil. Add the green beans and cook until very tender.
- While the green beans are cooking, beat eggs in a shallow dish that is long enough for the green beans to fit.
- Spray a frying pan with nonstick cooking oil and heat on medium heat high until warm. While the pan is heating, dip the green beans into the egg mixture until covered.
- Place the green beans and egg into the pan and begin to fry. If the green beans are not fully covered in egg as in the photo, spoon more egg mixture in until fully covered.
- Cook until one side is almost done, then flip and cook until the egg is fully cooked on the other side.
