Main Course · Lunch · Dinner · Latin American ·

Luscious Guatemalan Pepian with Pumpkin Seeds

Name: Luscious Guatemalan Pepian with Pumpkin Seeds
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 3 lbs chicken pieces (bone-in); 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp black pepper; Juice of 1 lime; 2 tomatoes, halved; 1 onion, quartered; 1 red bell pepper, halved and seeded; 2 dried Guajillo chiles, seeded; 2 dried Pasilla chiles, seeded; ½ cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas); ¼ cup sesame seeds; ½ tsp ground cloves; 1 cinnamon stick; 3 cups chicken broth; 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed; 2 carrots, sliced; Salt to taste; Pepper to taste

This rich and flavorful stew features tender chicken in a roasted vegetable and pumpkin seed sauce.

4.5(649 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·June 27, 2025

Luscious Guatemalan Pepian with Pumpkin Seeds — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

50 min

Cook

2 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Chicken Marinade

For the Sauce Base

For the Pepian Sauce

For the Finishing Touches

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 415 kcal
Protein: 35 g
Carbs: 23.3 g
Fat: 22.3 g
Fiber: 4.7 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2491 kcal
Protein: 209.8 g
Carbs: 139.6 g
Fat: 133.7 g
Fiber: 28 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
3 lbs chicken pieces (bone-in)	1365	165	0	81	0
2 cloves garlic, minced	8	0.3	2	0	0.1
1 tsp salt	0	0	0	0	0
1 tsp black pepper	6	0.3	1.4	0.1	0.5
Juice of 1 lime	11	0.2	3.7	0	0.1
2 tomatoes, halved	44	2	10	0.5	2
1 onion, quartered	44	1.2	10.3	0.1	1.9
1 red bell pepper, halved and seeded	37	1	9	0.5	2
2 dried Guajillo chiles, seeded	18	0.5	4	0.1	0.6
2 dried Pasilla chiles, seeded	24	1	5.5	0.2	1.4
½ cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)	357	19	11	31	5
¼ cup sesame seeds	206	6.5	7.2	18	4
½ tsp ground cloves	3	0.1	0.8	0.1	0.4
1 cinnamon stick	11	0.2	3.7	0.1	2.1
3 cups chicken broth	45	5	1	1.5	0
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed	258	6.7	59	0.3	5.3
2 carrots, sliced	50	1	12	0.3	3.6
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Chicken

1
Combine Marinade
In a large bowl, combine the chicken pieces with garlic, salt, pepper, and lime juice.
2
Mix to Coat
Mix well to coat the chicken evenly.
3
Chill
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for deeper flavor.

Preparing the Sauce Base

1
Roast Vegetables
Roast the tomatoes, onion, and bell pepper on a baking tray at 400°F (200°C) until charred.
Tip: You can char the vegetables on a grill for a smoky aroma.
2
Toast Chiles
Toast the dried Guajillo and Pasilla chiles in a dry skillet until fragrant.
Tip: Ensure that chiles are not over-toasted as this can make them bitter.
3
Rehydrate Chiles
Rehydrate chiles in hot water for about 15 minutes until soft.

How to Make Luscious Guatemalan Pepian with Pumpkin Seeds

Total time: 3 h 20 min · Yields 6 servings

1
Toasting Spices
Toast the pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, cloves, and cinnamon stick in a skillet until golden.
2
Blending Ingredients
Combine the toasted spices, rehydrated chiles, and roasted vegetables in a blender with chicken broth until smooth.
3
Stewing Chicken
In a large pot, add the chicken pieces and pour the smooth sauce over. Add potatoes and carrots, simmering until tender.