Traditional Guatemalan Chicken Pepian Recipe

Guatemalan Chicken Pepian

Embark on a culinary journey to Guatemala with this exquisite Chicken Pepian. Known as one of Guatemala’s national dishes, Pepian captures the essence of Guatemalan flavors with a harmonious blend of spices and fresh ingredients. This dish, a true testament to Guatemalan Cuisine, combines the heartiness of chicken with the zest of tomatillos and the warm fragrance of spices. Let the flavors of Guatemala tantalize your taste buds and bring a piece of this vibrant culture to your table.

Serves: 2, Difficulty: Expert

Preparation Time: 30 minutes, Cooking Time: 2 hours

Ingredients

• 400 grams chicken, cut into pieces
• 200 grams tomatillos, husked and halved
• 2 tomatoes, quartered
• 1 onion, quartered
• 3 cloves garlic, whole
• 30 grams pumpkin seeds
• 30 grams sesame seeds
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 grams allspice
• 2 chili peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 5 grams salt
• 3 grams black pepper
• 2 grams chili powder
• 2 grams cinnamon powder
• 1 liter water
• 20 ml olive oil

Method

• In a large pot, add chicken pieces and water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes, skimming the surface for impurities.
• Meanwhile, in a dry skillet, toast the pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds until golden. Set aside to cool.
• In the same skillet, add olive oil and sauté tomatillos, tomatoes, onion, garlic, cinnamon stick, and allspice until the tomatoes and tomatillos are softened.
• Transfer the sautéed ingredients to a blender. Add toasted seeds, chili peppers, cilantro, salt, and black pepper, and blend until smooth.
• Pour the sauce into the pot with the chicken. Add chili powder and cinnamon powder for additional flavor. Simmer on low heat for 1 to 1.5 hours or until the chicken is tender and the sauce is thick.
• Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the Pepian with warm, fluffy rice and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.

Tips

• For a deeper flavor, let the chicken marinate in the blended sauce for an hour before cooking.
• Adjust the heat level to your liking by varying the amount of chili peppers.

Nutritional Information