Guatemala Recipes
Mayan spice pastes ground on stone, still. Not sure what to eat in Guatemala? Start with Kak'ik (Q'eqchi' Turkey Soup), Tostadas Guatemaltecas, Rellenitos de Plátano and Desayuno Chapín. Here are 9 authentic Guatemala recipes, each from a specific region, with cultural context and dietary substitutions for every table.
9 recipes
Pepián de PolloSacatepéquez (Antigua), Guatemala · medium · 1 h 15 minChicken in a deep, toasty sauce of charred tomatoes, chiles, and ground seeds, Guatemala’s Mayan-rooted national stew.
Pepián de Pollo Desayuno ChapínSacatepéquez (Antigua), Guatemala · easy · 35 minThe full Guatemalan breakfast plate: eggs, soupy black beans, fried sweet plantain, fresh cream, and warm corn tortillas.
Tostadas GuatemaltecasSacatepéquez (Antigua), Guatemala · easy · 40 minCrisp fried tortillas topped three ways, with guacamole, tomato salsa, or black beans, a light Guatemalan street lunch.
Rellenitos de PlátanoSacatepéquez (Antigua), Guatemala · medium · 50 minSweet fried plantain dumplings stuffed with spiced black bean paste, a Guatemalan treat.
Kak'ik (Q'eqchi' Turkey Soup)Sacatepéquez (Antigua), Guatemala · medium · 2 hA clear, deep-red Maya turkey soup built on a charred recado of tomato, tomatillo, and smoky cobanero chile, finished with mint and cilantro.
Tamales ColoradosSacatepéquez (Antigua), Guatemala · advanced · 2 h 30 minSoft corn masa tinted with a red recado of tomato, chile, and toasted seeds, wrapped around pork with an olive, and steamed in banana leaf.
Shucos (Guatemalan Street Hot Dogs)Guatemala City, Guatemala · easy · 40 minA charcoal-toasted roll spread thickly with smooth guacamol, piled with grilled hot dogs and chorizo, soft boiled cabbage, and finished with mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup.
Chojín (Guatemalan Radish and Chicharrón Salad)Guatemala City, Guatemala · easy · 20 minFinely chopped radishes, tomato, onion and fresh mint dressed with sour orange and lime, tossed at the last moment with crisp crumbled pork rinds and eaten on tostadas or tortillas.
Chirmol (Guatemalan Charred Tomato and Mint Salsa)Sacatepéquez (Antigua), Guatemala · easy · 25 minTomatoes charred over a flame until blistered and soft, chopped with their skins and mixed with onion, fresh mint, cilantro, lime and salt, the salsa that goes beside every Guatemalan grill.
📋 Teaching Guatemala?A free, printable Country of the Week guide for the classroom: geography, a kid-friendly recipe, and discussion prompts.
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