Although tamales are usually made with maize dough, the Guatemalan version called paches uses mashed potatoes, annatto powder, allspice, and lard. These tamales are typically filled with a combination of meat, 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.
MOST ICONIC Paches
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. Pepián is also very popular in Chile.
MOST ICONIC Pepián
MAIN INGREDIENTS
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, queso fresco, 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.
MOST ICONIC Tamalitos de chipilín
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Mixtas are Guatemalan version of hot dogs, sold from numerous food carts throughout the country. What makes mixtas unique is the fact that the sausages are not placed in buns, but in tortillas. The dish is always made with fresh and inexpensive ingredients, so mixtas are usually filled with lime-dressed coleslaw, onions, diced tomatoes, guacamole, and green chiles.
MOST ICONIC Mixtas
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Shucos are popular Guatemalan and Latin American hot dogs. They are filled with guacamole, ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, mayonnaise, and any of the following ingredients: longaniza white sausage, salchicha sausage, or chorizo. Interestingly, the word shuco means dirty, referring to the abundance of ingredients used in this delicious hot dog variety.
MOST ICONIC Shucos
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Tostadas de salsa is a traditional dish originating from Guatemala. The dish consists of toasted tortillas topped with red salsa. The salsa is typically made with a combination of tomatoes, onions, garlic, hot peppers, oil, salt, and coriander.
The ingredients are boiled, blended, then cooked a bit more with the seasoning mix until the salsa thickens. It is then spooned over the tostadas and served warm. The dish is traditionally served as a snack or appetizer, especially during festive events and holidays.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
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.
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