Guatemala is a mountainous Central American country nestled between Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. While most Guatemalans are of mixed indigenous and European heritage, large numbers of chapines — as Guatemalans refer to themselves — are pure-blooded Mayan with a culture dating back centuries.
The ingredients of Guatemalan cuisine are typical for Central America — corn, tomatoes, peppers, beans, plantains, tomatillos. Several dishes are uniquely Guatemalan, including jocón , pepián , and hilachas and several varieties of tamales.
Typical Guatemalan Dishes
A list of typical Guatemalan dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan a Guatemalan-style meal, party or festival.
Boquitas (Appetizers)
- Chiles Rellenos (Chiles stuffed with meat)
- Taquitos (Stuffed, rolled and fried tortillas)
Sopas (Soups and Stews)
- Cak-Ik (Turkey soup)
- Caldo de Pata (Cow’s foot soup)
- Tapado (Seafood stew with plantains)
Ensaladas (Salads)
- Chojin (Pork rind and radish salad)
- Iguashte (Vegetable salad in pumpkin seed sauce)
- Picado de Rábano (Radish salad)
Pollo (Poultry)
- Arroz con Pollo Chapina (Guatemalan chicken with rice)
- Jocon (Chicken in a tomatillo-cilantro sauce)
- Pollo en Pipian (Chicken in tomato-pumpkin seed sauce)
Carne (Meats)
- Carne Adobada (Beef simmered in tomato-tomatillo sauce)
- Chuchitos (Cornmeal dumplings with pork)
- Fiambre Tradicional (Traditional cold cuts)
- Hilachas (Guatemalan shredded beef in tomato-tomatillo sauce)
- Salpicón (Chopped beef with sour orange, cilantro and onions)
Pescados y Mariscos (Fish and Seafood)
- Ceviche (Citrus-marinated seafood)
Verdures y Frijoles (Vegetables and Beans)
- Frijoles Negros Volteados (Refried black beans)
- Plátanos Fritos (Fried ripe plantains)
- Verduras en Escabeche (Pickled vegetables)
Panes y Arroz (Breads and Grains)
- Arroz Guatemalteco (Guatemalan rice with vegetables)
- Chuchitos (Small, meat-stuffed tamales)
- Paches (Potato tamales with chicken)
- Tamales de Elote (Fresh corncakes)
- Tamales Negros (Black tamales)
Postres (Desserts)
- Bunuelos (Yuca fritters)
- Manjar (Cornstarch pudding)
- Plátanos al Horno (Baked sweet plantains)
- Plátanos en Mole (Plantains in chocolate-chipotle sauce)
- Rellenitos de Plátano (Mashed plantain filled with black beans)
Bebidas (Beverages)
- Cerveza (Beer)
- Horchata (Sweet rice beverage)
Guatemalan Recipes
Try these recipes from Guatemala.
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