Pepián de Pollo (Keto-Style, No Thickeners)
Keto Chicken Stew with Roasted Seed Sauce
Yes, with a tweak: explicitly request no masa, bread, or other starchy thickeners in the sauce. About 14g net carbs per serving, on the higher side for Guatemalan food, so watch the portion.
What it is
A rich, complex stew featuring chicken in a deeply flavored sauce made from roasted seeds (like pumpkin and sesame), tomatillos, tomatoes, and a variety of mild chiles and spices. Modified to omit all starchy thickeners and served without rice or tortillas.
Key ingredients
Chicken, tomatillos, tomatoes, guaque chile, pasa chile, zamat chile, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), cinnamon, cloves, garlic, onions, cilantro, chicken broth, olive oil. Often includes chayote (güisquil) and green beans.
How to make it keto
Explicitly request no masa, bread, or other starchy thickeners in the sauce. Confirm no sugar is added. Serve with a side of steamed chayote or green beans instead of rice and tortillas.
Watch out for
Starchy thickeners (masa, bread, tortillas) if not explicitly omitted, small amounts of hidden sugar, naturally higher carb count from tomatoes and tomatillos.
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 ›
