What do people eat in Guatemala? | Must-try dishes
Guatemalan gastronomy is brimming with flavors and spicy tastes infused with jalapeño, but also with gentler and sweeter recipes made with achiote or plantain bananas…
Guatemalan gastronomy is brimming with flavors and spicy tastes infused with jalapeño, but also with gentler and sweeter recipes made with achiote or plantain bananas… You're wondering what to eat in Guatemala as you prepare your journey through Central America? Here are the traditional dishes awaiting you!
Jocon: one of the country's most popular dishes
Jocon – which comes from the Huehuetenango region – features five essential ingredients: cilantro, tomato, tomatillo, green onion, and chile (a very spicy pepper). Once blended together, you get a savory sauce to accompany chicken. Jocon is then served alongside white corn, rice, or tortillas.
Chuchitos: a dish you absolutely must try in Guatemala
Wrapped in tusa de maiz (corn husks), chuchitos are a type of tortilla. Filled with beef, pork, or chicken, they're accompanied by a tomato sauce seasoned with bell peppers, chiles, garlic, and onion. After being gently wrapped in a tusa, they're plunged into boiling water for ten minutes.
Fiambre: the signature dish of Día de los Muertos
Prepared for Día de los Muertos (the equivalent of All Saints' Day), fiambre resembles a grand salad composed of vegetables, deli meats, and cheese. Depending on the region, you'll also detect flavors of olives, capers, candied beets, or broad beans. This singular dish is consumed only on November 1st and 2nd and rarely appears on restaurant menus.
Kaq'ik: a traditional dish classified as cultural heritage
Originating from the Las Verapaces region, kak'ik is a traditional dish declared intangible cultural heritage in 2007. It's cooked with turkey thighs, vegetables, spices, cilantro, chiles, and achiote – a seasoning renowned for its vermillion-red color! Kak'ik is often accompanied by tamalitos, rice, and a cacao-based liqueur…
Pepián: an emblematic specialty of Guatemalan gastronomy
Inherited from the Maya, pepián is an emblematic specialty of Guatemalan gastronomy. It's a dish made with beef, pork, or chicken (sometimes all three!) and vegetables (carrots, potatoes, onions, corn, and chayote). Everything is enhanced with a sauce cooked with tomato, chile, garlic, and cilantro. This delicious stew is served with rice.
Tapado: a typical fish-based dish
Tapado is a bouillabaisse made with green bananas and coconut milk! Emerging from the late 19th century and Caribbean cuisine, this recipe showcases white fish (such as red snapper) as well as crustaceans like crab. Shrimp and cassava are also used to prepare this dish. The fish is often served fried on top of the plate – and whole.
Tamales and tamalitos de Cambray: a dish with savory or sweet flavors
Tamales are steampackets. Inside corn husks, you'll discover a savory filling always made with cornmeal, meat, and lard – other ingredients vary from recipe to recipe…
There's also a sweet version, called tamalitos de cambray, which stands out for its red color. It's cooked with unrefined cane sugar, cinnamon, and can contain various dried fruits, such as raisins, roasted almonds, etc.
Paches: a festive dish in Guatemala
Similar to tamales, paches are also steampackets, but these are made with a potato-based dough. It's a festive dish, served during the Christmas season or birthdays, among other occasions. You can pair your paches with an agua de Jamaica, a non-alcoholic beverage made from hibiscus, very common in Guatemala.
Tortillas: the staples of Guatemalan tables
Staples in Guatemalan cuisine, tortillas are delicious corn flatbreads. Served to accompany dishes, tortillas reveal all their flavors when still warm and their texture is still tender! They can also be enjoyed on their own, topped with cheese and beans.
Shucos: the street-food stars
Shucos are hot-dogs highly appreciated in Guatemala. Inside thick, tender bread, you'll find deli meats (or grilled meat), cabbage, mashed avocado, jalapeño peppers, and a sauce made with mustard, mayonnaise, and tomato sauce.
Shucos are sold everywhere in the streets. A flagship street-food product in Guatemala, this specialty will delight you with its grilled taste and the freshness of its citrus notes!
Plátanos en mole guatemaltecos: the essential dessert
Do you like finishing on a sweet note? Discover Plátanos en mole! This sweet dish celebrates plantain bananas, fried in a sauce made with chocolate, chiles, sesame seeds, and cinnamon! This traditional dessert is among the four national dishes classified as « intangible cultural heritage of the nation ».
Frequently asked questions
Guatemala recognizes four dishes as intangible cultural heritage of the nation: pepián, jocon, kak'ik, and plátanos en mole. Pepián, a meat stew in a spiced sauce inherited from the Maya, is often considered the most emblematic dish of the country.
Guatemalan gastronomy does indeed use chiles (jalapeño, chile), but not all dishes are necessarily very hot. Recipes like tamales or plátanos en mole are mild and accessible to all palates. The level of spice varies by region and dish.
Traditional Guatemalan dishes are found in local restaurants called 'comedores', at local markets like Chichicastenango, and on the street for street food (shucos, tamales). The city of Antigua Guatemala also offers numerous restaurants serving authentic local cuisine.
Guatemalan tortillas are similar to Mexican tortillas because they're made from cornmeal, but they're generally thicker and more tender. They accompany most meals and can also be enjoyed on their own with cheese and black beans.
Fiambre is a unique traditional Guatemalan dish, resembling a grand salad composed of vegetables, deli meats, cheese, olives, capers, and candied beets. It's consumed exclusively on November 1st and 2nd, during Día de los Muertos (the equivalent of All Saints' Day).
Yes, street food is very prevalent in Guatemala. Shucos, hot-dogs filled with deli meats, mashed avocado, cabbage, and jalapeño, are sold in the streets throughout the country. Tamales and chuchitos are also available on markets and in the street.
