Pollo en Crema

Name: Pollo en Crema
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Guatemalan
Ingredients: 1kg chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks); 1 cup sour cream or crema; 1 cup chicken broth; 2 onions, sliced into rings; 2 green bell peppers, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp butter; 1 tbsp oil; 1 sprig fresh thyme; Salt and pepper; Parsley for garnish

Pollo en Crema (POH-yoh ehn KREH-mah)

Chicken in Cream Sauce

⏱ Prep Time 15 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 422 kcal

Tender chicken pieces braised in a luscious sauce of sour cream, onions, and roasted peppers, a rich and comforting Guatemalan home-cooking classic.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 35.0g

Carbs 12.0g

Fat 26.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ dairy

Equipment Needed

large skillet with lid cutting board

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep serving plate

Garnishes: parsley, onion rings

Accompaniments: white rice, corn tortillas

Ingredients

1kg chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks)
1 cup sour cream or crema
1 cup chicken broth
2 onions, sliced into rings
2 green bell peppers, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil
1 sprig fresh thyme
Salt and pepper
Parsley for garnish

Instructions

1
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown in oil and butter on all sides. Remove.
2
In the same pan, sauté onion rings, bell peppers, and garlic until softened.
3
Return chicken to pan. Add broth and thyme. Cover and simmer 25 min until chicken is cooked through.
4
Reduce heat to low. Stir in sour cream gently, coating the chicken.
5
Simmer uncovered 5 min (do not boil or cream will curdle). Season with salt and pepper.
6
Garnish with parsley and serve with rice and tortillas.

💡

Did You Know?

Pollo en crema is considered the gateway dish that every Guatemalan teen learns to cook first, since it is nearly impossible to mess up.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large skillet with lid
cutting board

Garnishing

parsley, onion rings

Accompaniments

white rice, corn tortillas

The Story Behind Pollo en Crema

Pollo en crema showcases the Spanish colonial influence on Guatemalan cooking through the use of dairy cream. The dish adapted European cream sauce traditions to the Guatemalan kitchen, where chicken replaced more expensive meats. Its simplicity and universal appeal made it one of the country's most cooked weeknight dinners.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch or dinner 📜 Origins: Colonial era

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