I am a foodie, and a frugal foodie at that, so I'm in heaven with the choices available in Guatemala, at prices unimaginable in the U.S. Fresh fruit galore, a bag of cut papaya, mango, pineapple, melon for Q5, or about 65 cents in American money.
Every fresh vegetable imaginable at the local market. A carrot the size of a small puppy costs Q1, or about 13 cents. Avocados are the best I've ever tasted, large and ready to eat for Q2 apiece or about 25 cents American.
One of my favorite local dishes is called
pupusas, made with 2 tortillas fried together with a meat or cheese filling and served with a flavorful cole slaw and hot spicy peppers and carrots. You can get 3 pupusas for Q15 - 20, or about $2.
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| The pupusa ladies filling orders at my favorite stall |
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| Pupusa |
Do you enjoy fried chicken and french fries?--
pollo and
papafritas. The chicken is extra crunchy and very tender.
My husband ordered fish at a local restaurant. I love how they served it with head and all.
I am totally salivating!! :-) Take care
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I'm glad I read this lunchtime. I'm off now to have some boring food, just a plain sandwich for me. Great fresh vegetables and fruit.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound pupusas - croque monsieur Guatemalan style :)
ReplyDeleteSophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic
Ok this post made me incredibly hungry :)
ReplyDeleteOh gosh! Yummy! Just looking at the photos made my mouth water. :-) And to think I just had dinner here at our part of the globe. :-)
ReplyDeleteI miss locally grown fresh fruit and veggies so much right now-we're just coming out of winter here and we still have a few months before growing season starts. And those prices you're paying!!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so colorful and healthy. Then I saw the head on the fish and he does not look happy.
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks so amazing! And the prices are unbelievable. I look forward to hearing more about your adventures. I'm planning to move to an island next fall, so am trying to learn everything I can from you brave expats. :)
ReplyDeleteYum - I picked a great day to stop by. Those pupusas sound especially amazing! And oh, the prices---that alone makes me drool.
ReplyDeleteWow...my mouth is watering as I read this. I love all of those foods except the fish. I know it's traditional to serve it with the head and fins and all, but I don't like food I have to wrestle with! Your blog is very interesting and I'm glad to find another A to Z blogger. Will come back to learn more about life in Guatemala.
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so fresh and colourful!! Envious! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteLooks tasty! Pupusas sounds like an omelet, less the egg.
ReplyDeleteFound you on the A-Z list - so glad I did. Love your photos and the first hand details about Guatemalan food. Going to try making pupusas tonight.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, You are ambitious! Hope your pupusas turn out well.
DeleteThat food looks delicious, although the eyes on the fish would have had me squirming. I could just imagine it saying, "hey you, why you got to eat me up?" lol!!!
ReplyDeleteDo they do mangos verdes con sal y chile there? I enjoyed all the fresh fruit in Honduras, especially the papaya and star fruit.
ReplyDeleteSteven, yes they do. I really like mango with sal y chile. At first I just took it natural but then decided to try all the seasonings, and prefer it that way now.
DeleteThat food looks a beautiful as it must taste! Love pupusas.
ReplyDeleteNow you are in the real zone, Karen. I love your own cookbook, Farm Girl Country Cooking.
ReplyDeleteI have heard that if you have north American income and live in the other Americas, life can be very affordable.
OMIGAWD! *laughing* I would totally FREAK if that fish landed on my plate - or even my husband's plate! I'd be like the mom on A Christmas Story when they bring a whole goose to the table and chop his head off. So I don't envy you the fish but the vegetables and fruit look delish!
ReplyDeleteI am hungry now!
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to imagine such affordable fresh fruit. it costs so much here in the states and it's not very fresh.
ReplyDeleteYou picked a good place to move too, with the money you lived on in the states, you should fair quite well where you are now. Plus, lots of fun ingredients. Not too shabby.
ReplyDeleteSo hungry now!
ReplyDeleteMy father loved Guatemala, especially Lake Atitlan. He was there on a medical expedition in 1944!
ReplyDeleteloverofwords, I'd be so interested in knowing how it was then compared to current times. I doubt that tourism was the industry it is now.
DeleteI've gained 20 pounds just reading this post!
ReplyDeleteWith every post you make me want to come to Guatemala even more. You won me over talking about how accessible the fruit is. Mmmm!
ReplyDeleteChuck, Well, if you come I know the best hotel to stay at in Panajachel!
DeleteEnvious!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the follow!
ReplyDeleteAnd now I'll have to be sure and come back after I've eaten, or I'll be in big trouble! Wow, so scrumptious!
That fish falling off the plate - how are you meant to eat that!! The mess must be wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteI'd be very happy with the food. Finding good fruits and vegetables without spending a fortune is one of my shopping challenges.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen - I see G is for ..... so I'd be anxious about the delicious meals you mention despite the salads! But they look wonderful and all that fresh fruit and salads and veg .. I'd be in heaven .. but struggling with G...... wonderful photos and I love the look of the fish .. cheers and enjoy it all - Hilary
ReplyDeleteWow fruits and veggies are so cheap there!!! Nice!
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