Guatemala: Recipes and Cuisine

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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

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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.

Horchata de Arroz

(Latin sweet rice beverage)

Tamales de Elote

(Central American fresh corncakes)

Carne Asada

(Central American grilled steak)

Atol de Elote

(Central American corn beverage)

Plátanos Fritos

(Latin fried ripe plantains)

Jocón

(Guatemalan chicken in tomatillo-cilantro sauce)

Salpicón de Res

(Central American shredded beef salad)

Hilachas

(Guatemalan shredded beef in tomato-tomatillo sauce)

Vinagre de Piña

(Central American pineapple vinegar)

Picado de Rábano

(Guatemalan radish salad)

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