Craving crispy, flavor-packed comfort food that’ll make your taste buds dance the salsa? This authentic Guatemalan fried chicken recipe delivers golden, crunchy perfection with a Latin twist that puts KFC to shame.
This recipe combines aromatic Central American spices with traditional frying techniques, making it perfect for weekend family gatherings or when you want to impress dinner guests.
Ready in just 45 minutes, each bite bursts with cumin, garlic, and secret seasonings, creating an addictively crispy exterior and juicy, tender meat inside.
My Guatemalan neighbor, Rosa, taught me this family recipe after I completely butchered my first attempt—let’s say even the dog refused my “chicken jerky disaster!
What is Guatemalan fried chicken?
Guatemalan fried chicken is one of the most popular Latin American dishes. The story behind its preparation dates back to the pre-Colombian era, when the ancient Mayan people first made it.
They heated the chicken with chili peppers before frying it in peanut oil. Fried chicken can be served cold or at room temperature with a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce (or gravy).
How Long Will It Take to Prepare?
- Prepare time: 30 minutes.
- Cook time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 1
How to make Guatemalan fried chicken?
Ingredients:
- Chicken pieces
- Onion, minced
- Garlic, minced
- 5-6 Thai green and red chilies, chopped fine
- ½ tablespoon salt (or to taste)
- Bouillon powder
- ½ tablespoon pepper (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon each: ginger, lemongrass, garlic
- Lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons peanut oil
Directions:
Step:1
In a large bowl, mix the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, chicken bouillon powder, and two tablespoons of lemon juice. Marinate this for about 20 minutes in the fridge.
Step:2
In a saucepan with ¼ cup of water, add Thai green chilies, garlic cloves, ginger, and lemongrass. Bring to a boil, add the peanut oil, and stir-fry for 15 seconds. Set aside this mixture to cool to room temperature.
Step:3
In a frying pan, fry the chicken pieces in peanut oil until they are crispy and golden. Place them on a rack lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.
Step:4
Add onion, Thai green and red chilies, garlic cloves, ginger, and lemongrass to a saucepan with 2 cups of water. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
Step:5
Mix all three sauces in a bowl and set aside.
Step:6
Serve the fried chicken with the three dipping sauces, which should be served hot. The chicken can be refrigerated for 3-4 hours after a couple of hours have passed since helping to ensure it is well-kept.
Nutrition Facts of Guatemalan fried chicken:
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 114 |
| Calories from fat | 4.4g |
| Protein | 19.9g |
| Carbohydrate | 5.5g |
| Sodium | 27mg |
| Fiber | 0.6g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Saturated fat | 0.6g |
| Total sugars | 1.7g |
The five best variations of Guatemalan fried chicken-
1. Shredded Chicken Guatemalan Style:
This recipe is marinated and spiced with cumin, coriander, lemon, garlic, and hot sauce. It can be served with tortillas or jalapenos.
2. Fried Chicken Guatemalan Style:
A big difference from the abovementioned recipe is that this one uses chicken breasts for a less spicy version. The chicken breasts are marinated in dry oregano and lemon before frying in olive oil.
3. Fried Chicken Spicy Guatemalan Style:
This recipe is similar to the first one except for the ingredients used. Before frying in olive oil, the chicken is marinated with cumin, paprika, coriander, water, oregano, and salt.
4. Fried Chicken in a Garlic-Chile Sauce with Cheese:
The two main ingredients of this dish are garlic and fresh chiles. The chicken pieces are marinated with garlic cloves, fresh chiles, lime juice, and salt before frying in olive oil.
5. Guacamole Fondue:
Served as an appetizer, guacamole is mixed with chilli powder and served with tortilla chips and fried chicken pieces.
What are the Healthy benefits of Guatemalan fried chicken?
- Guatemalan fried chicken is rich in protein because it contains chicken as the main ingredient.
- Guatemalan fried chicken has zero fat content and is considered to be a low-fat food.
- Chicken bones are high in calcium, making them great for bone health for children and adults.
- Chicken meat contains a good amount of iron, which helps build up red blood cells in the body. These cells produce enough oxygen for the body’s tissues and organs.
- Chicken meat is a good source of zinc, which helps develop the immune system. It also boosts the growth of new cells and repairs tissues in the body.
- As an essential amino acid, glutamine helps remove ammonia from the body’s bloodstream, which keeps the brain cells of the cerebral cortex clear from degeneration due to ammonia accumulation in the brain cells.
- Chicken is high in protein, which improves the body’s metabolic rate and helps in weight loss.
How should you prepare fried chicken to make it taste even better?
Get fresh, free-range chickens, and make sure they are not frozen before you prepare them for frying. Cheap cuts of meat are not suitable for frying since they may turn mushy when deep-fried. Cut off all the fat and skin from the chicken, then wash it well with cold water before marinating it in salt, pepper, bouillon powder, lemon juice, and chicken bouillon powder.
What are the precautions for Guatemalan fried chicken?
The best precaution when eating this dish is to avoid overeating it all at once because it can be quite rich in taste and fatty. Here are some meal Combinations for Guatemalan fried chicken.
How do you fry chicken?
The best way to fry chicken is on medium-high or high heat. The oil should be heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degrees Celsius. The best oils for frying are peanut oil and canola oil. These oils take longer to burn, therefore providing a better-tasting fried chicken.
What other types of foods can be eaten with fried chicken?
Your fried chicken pairs well with hamburgers, fries, quesadillas, and sandwiches. Add wedges of lemon to the dish and serve it with coleslaw or salad.
Is fried chicken healthy?
Yes, this food is indeed healthy because of its protein content. You can add pineapple rings in between serving chicken pieces as a garnish to make this dish even better for your family.
How to store Guatemalan fried chicken?
Store the fried chicken in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you are about to eat it, take it out and fry it in peanut oil for a couple of minutes, then place it on a rack lined with paper towels to drain excess fat.
If you want to freeze the chicken, wrap it well with tin foil and place it in an airtight container before freezing.
Conclusion
You can prepare this dish with as many variations as you want and enjoy it as most people do. It is a mouthwatering dish for your family because it is rich in taste and nutrients. You can serve it hot or cold and with a variety of sauces.
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