7 Most Popular Guatemalan Street Foods
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Loading... - Vicente Montoya
- 15 Jul 2022
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Chuchitos
Chuchitos are traditional Guatemalan-style tamales that are usually made for holiday celebrations and festivities, but are also eaten any day of the year. Chuchito, meaning a small dog or a puppy, consists of warm corn masa dough stuffed with succulent pieces of meat such as pork or chicken and a mild tomato or chili sauce.
The mixture of these ingredients is wrapped in a dried corn husk and steamed until the dough develops its typical texture and flavor and is cooked thoroughly. Alternatively, chuchitos can be grilled after they're steamed, giving them a unique, smoky flavor along with their nice visual appearance.Tamalitos de chipilín
Tamalitos de chipilín is a Guatemalan tamale variety made with a leafy green vegetable called chipilín, native to Mexico. This variety does not contain any meat, just chipilín leaves that are wrapped in a combination of corn flour, margarine, water, and salt, then wrapped again in corn husks and steamed.
The dish can be consumed as it is, but it is often recommended to serve it with a bit of cream on the side. The Mexican version of the same dish has origins in the state of Chiapas.Paches
Although tamales are usually made with maize dough, the Guatemalan version called paches uses mashed potatoes, along with optional ingredients such as achiote powder, allspice, and lard. These tamales are typically filled with a combination of tomatoes, green onion, garlic, bell peppers, and chile peppers.
When the concoction is prepared, it is then wrapped in banana leaves or corn husks and steamed until it is soft and ready for consumption. In Guatemala, paches is traditionally sold by street vendors on Thursdays, while other types of tamales made with maize dough are prepared on other days of the week.Pepián
This tasty stew is often referred to as the national dish of Guatemala. It shows a blend of Mayan and Spanish cultures and a taste of both. Pepián is characterized by its thick and rich consistency, and it usually contains meats such as beef, chicken, or pork, along with fruits and vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, corn, pear, and squash.
The flavor is slightly bitter because of the roasted spices that are blended together, then added to the stew. It can be found in diners or bought from street food vendors, who often serve pepián with rice and corn tortillas on the side.Hilachas
Hilachas is a staple of Guatemalan cuisine, a red-colored stew featuring ingredients such as shredded beef and vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, squash, or carrots. The name of the dish means shreds or rags, referring to shredded beef, which is the star of hilachas.
It is believed that the stew tastes even better when reheated the next day. Hilachas can be found in numerous versions throughout Latin America, and it is typically served with rice and beans on the side. Read More...
