10 Most Popular Foods in Guatemala

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So, are you a foodie by heart and a traveler by nature? If your answer is a big yes, then read this article to the end. There’s one such place for you guys where you can satisfy your heart and soul to the fullest.

Apart from volcanoes and ancient Mayan sites, Guatemala is home to many foods as well. Check out the list of the top 10 Guatemalan foods and pick your favorite.

1. Noodle Tostadas

Raise your hands if you love noodles. And if you love noodles, then you must try this. They are popular Guatemalan street food. Visualize it as a taco topped with a plethora of different toppings ranging from tomato, onion, guacamole, and many more.

And yes! Noodles as well. The most distinct feature of Noodle Tostados is that one of the main toppings is noodles.

Recipe for Noodle Tostados

2. Kak’ik

The next on the list is a rather traditional one. Guatemala is synonymous with Mayan civilization, and so does its food. Kak’ik is a turkey soup that has a lot of spices. These spices range from coriander to chilies and even achiotes.

A fun fact related to Kak’ik is that Q’eqchi’, an ethnic group of Guatemala, still prepares this soup and has been doing so for hundreds of years.

Recipe for Kak’ik

3. Pollo en Crema

The best thing about Pollo en Crema is that once you see it, you know what it is. Covered with a delicious cream from top to bottom are chicken breasts. The cream, or sauce, is made of Loroco, onions, green chili peppers, zucchini, and yellow potatoes.

Recipe for Pollo en Crema

4. Tres Leches Cake

Cakes are loved by everyone- kids, adults, and the elderly alike. And Latin America, and of course, Guatemala, is home to one of the spongiest cakes you’ll ever come across. The Tres Leches cake is extremely spongy and a must during celebrations in Guatemalan households. Not only that, but they can also be adobe served in the form of single servings and cupcakes.

Recipe for Tres Leches Cake

5. Pepian

No trip to a country can be considered complete without you trying out its national dish. So, if you get a chance to visit Guatemala, make sure to try Pepian. Considered to be the national dish of Guatemala, Pepian, or Chicken Pepian, is a spicy chicken stew. Apart from chicken, tons of fruits and vegetables are also used to increase both the quantity and quality of Pepian.

Recipe for Pepian

6. Champurradas

What goes well with a cup of one of the finest coffees in the world? A tasty snack like some cookies. Champurradas is just that, but bigger and way better. Their flavor resembles biscotti. So, if you want to have an unforgettable Guatemalan coffee experience, then it’s a must that you couple it with a couple of Champurradas.

Recipe for Champurradas

7. Rellenitos

If sweets are your weakness, then get ready to add another name to it. These Rellenitos are sweet balls with chocolate, cinnamon, and black beans in the core. The Rellenitos balls are made of fried plantain pudding.

Recipe for Rellenitos

8. Tortillas

There is a good chance that you might have heard about it. Now, it’s time to try it as well. They resemble Indian chapatis but are way different in taste. The best thing about them is that they can go well with almost anything. Not only that, but Tortillas are also made of corn and come up in different colors.

Recipe for Tortillas

9. Pastel de Banana

To satisfy your sweet cravings, Guatemala has yet another food to offer. This is called Pastel de Banana. Banana being its base material, this cake also contains flour, sugar, eggs, and other stuff that goes into making a cake.

To enhance its taste and appeal, different flavored essence and dry fruits are also added. If you ever get a chance to visit Guatemala, you can get to taste a unique kind of cake as well.

Recipe for Pastel de Banana

10. Carne Asada

Guatemala has a rich culture of barbecue. One of the most popular ways to grill meat in Guatemala is to grill it on a charcoal grill. You can easily find a barbecue party going on if you visit Guatemala. The meat grilled on these charcoal grills in barbecue parties is known as Carne Asada.

It is a part of every Guatemalan family get-together, reunion, and special occasions. So, if you ever get a chance to be a part of such a get-together in Guatemala, don’t forget to enjoy Carne Asada and the Guatemalan barbecue culture.

Recipe for Carne Asada

Sources

Chef’s Pencil

Culture Trip

Inlexca.org