If you know Guatemalan food, you will know that stews are very popular in the long culinary history of this country. Lentil stew is a perfect traditional Guatemalan lunch, very nutritious to which you can add other ingredients to give it your personal touch. This is a delicious recipe that is easy and quick to prepare.

This is one of those traditional dishes that immediately transport us to family memories, when as a family we helped in the kitchen to prepare a dish that we all enjoyed. There are many traditional Guatemalan dishes, but there are few that are authentically homemade and lentil stew is one of them; This is one of these cheap and humble dishes from Guatemalan home history, a dish that comforts you on cold days, but just as delicious at any time of the year. This dish is so customizable, that you could even make it vegetarian and its flavor will satisfy you just the same.

guatemala lentils recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of lentils
  • 2 chili peppers
  • 1 carrot (small size)
  • 1 onion finely chopped (medium size)
  • 1/4 cup capers
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 sprigs of thyme
  • 2 potatoes (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon oregano (fresh or dried)
  • 150 gr of bacon (cut into small pieces)
  • 150 gr of chicken (cut into small pieces / optional)
  • 3 cups of chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Cilantro (chopped)
  • Olive oil

Instructions

Step 1 : First, remember to wash the lentils, then you have to cook them with salt, pepper, bay leaves and coriander for around 45 mins with the chicken broth. If you notice while it is cooking that a lot of the broth has been consumed, then add a little water. If you don't have chicken or vegetable broth, then just use water.

Step 2 : While the lentils are cooking, finely chop the onion, carrot, potatoes (optional), pepper and garlic. You must place these ingredients in the pot 20 minutes after the lentils begin to cook.

Step 3 : Now, cut the bacon and chicken into small pieces, then fry them in olive oil until they are slightly golden brown.

Step 4 : Add the bacon and chicken, plus the capers, thyme and oregano to the pot of lentils until they are finished cooking along with the lentils and vegetables.

After 45 minutes of cooking, try the lentils, if they are soft, it is ready. If not, keep cooking them some more. The lentil stew goes very well with white rice and a few pieces of avocado. This is a classic of Guatemalan home cuisine.

lentils recipe guatemala