Pepián de Pollo y Res
Guatemalan Chicken and Beef Stew
Yes, with a tweak: omit rice and corn tortillas. About 14g net carbs per serving, on the higher side for Guatemalan food, so watch the portion.
What it is
A rich, flavorful and aromatic stew, considered one of Guatemala's national dishes. It features chicken and beef simmered in a complex sauce made from roasted tomatoes, tomatillos, chiles, and a blend of ground seeds (like pepitas and sesame) and spices. Traditionally served with rice and corn tortillas, which must be omitted for keto.
Key ingredients
Chicken, beef, tomatoes, tomatillos, guaque chiles, pasilla chiles, pimiento chiles, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sesame seeds, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, achiote, onion, garlic, chicken broth, cooking oil (e.g., vegetable oil or lard).
How to make it keto
Omit rice and corn tortillas. Request extra broth or vegetables like chayote if available. Confirm no starchy thickeners are used in the sauce (authentic Pepián typically thickens from ground seeds and roasted vegetables).
Watch out for
Hidden sugars in the sauce (less common for authentic Pepián, but possible in restaurants), high-carb side dishes (rice, tortillas) are standard and must be explicitly refused.
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 ›
