A delicious chicken stew bursting with the flavours of fresh market vegetables and herbs. It's a traditional Mayan dish enjoyed at celebrations and on Guatemalan holidays.
Course Main
Cuisine Guatemalan
Prep Time 30minutes
Cook Time 30minutes
Total Time 1hour
Servings 4servings
Calories 452kcal
Author Jardin de America Spanish School
Ingredients
1poundbeef bonesoptional
1poundchickenorganic or yellow skin
4potatoespeeled and halved
1 1/2huisquilrinse to remove stickiness
2cupsmasa corn flourwet
6smalltomatoes
1/ 2tspachiote paste
One bunch each of fresh cilantro, hierba buena (fresh mint) and green onion
Simmer the beef bones (in water to cover) with 3 leaves of hierba buena, cilantro and a green onion for one hour;
Simmer chicken (in enough water to cover) with 3 leaves of hierba buena, cilantro and a green onion for 30 minutes. Remove chicken and reserve;
Add the vegetables to the chicken broth and simmer until tender but not mushy;
Strain the beef and vegetables reserving the liquid;
Shape the masa into 6 small balls of dough;
Liquify the achiote with 3 tomatoes, 3 balls of masa and the liquid from the beef and chicken. Add more balls of masa if it looks watery;
Strain the tomato mixture into a pot on the stove;
Simmer, stirring continuously for 15 minutes. Add more liquid if it gets too thick.
The key to success for pulique de pollo is in the stirring. According to Olga, it's important to simmer the sauce until it's the colour of a mandarin orange. She was vigilant in this task, not removing the spoon from the pot for even a minute.
Notes
The key to success for pulique de pollo is in the stirring. According to Olga, it's important to simmer the sauce until it's the colour of a mandarin orange. She was vigilant in this task, not removing the spoon from the pot for even a minute.