Pepián de Pollo
Chicken Pepián Stew
Yes, with a tweak: ask for no potatoes, no carrots (if included), and reduce güisquil and green beans. About 14g net carbs per serving, on the higher side for Guatemalan food, so watch the portion.
What it is
A rich, complex, and flavorful chicken stew, considered a national dish of Guatemala. Made with various chiles, tomatoes, tomatillos, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and spices. Traditionally thickened and may incorporate keto-friendly vegetables.
Key ingredients
Chicken, tomatoes, tomatillos, guajillo chiles, pasilla chiles, ancho chiles, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sesame seeds, onion, garlic, cilantro, sometimes potatoes, güisquil (chayote), green beans, green onion.
How to make it keto
Ask for no potatoes, no carrots (if included), and reduce güisquil and green beans. Crucially, confirm no masa (corn flour) or bread is used as a thickener, or ask for it very thin with minimal thickener.
Say this to the waiter (Spanish)
El Pepián de Pollo, por favor, sin papas ni zanahorias. Pocos güisquiles y ejotes. ¿Me confirma que no se espesa con masa o pan? Si sí, que sea muy ligero.
Pepián de Pollo: No potatoes, no carrots, minimal güisquil/green beans. Is it thickened with masa/bread? If so, very thin, minimal.
Watch out for
Potatoes, carrots, excessive güisquil/green beans, hidden masa or bread thickeners, potential added sugar in some restaurant preparations of the sauce.
Macros are estimates for a typical serving and vary by restaurant. Confirm ingredients with staff, especially if you have allergies. Our ingredient lists are generated automatically and describe how a dish is typically made.
More on the Guatemalan menuAll 1,212 Guatemalan dishes ›
