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Desayuno chapín
Eggs, beans and plantain breakfast
Desayuno chapín: the full Guatemalan breakfast of eggs, black beans, plantain, cheese, cream and chirmol
In Guatemala City cafés and Antigua guesthouses, the desayuno chapín (chapín being the nickname for Guatemalans) is the big breakfast plate: eggs fried or scrambled, a mound of refried black beans, slices of caramelised ripe plantain, a square of fresh cheese, a spoon of crema, chirmol (charred tomato salsa) and warm corn tortillas. The common mistake is using plantains that are still yellow-green: for sweet, sticky slices they should be almost black. Some queso fresco is made with animal rennet; choose one made with microbial rennet, or use paneer, to keep it vegetarian. Cook eggs fully set for pregnant people, young children, older or vulnerable people. Chef's tip: fry the beans in the oil left from the plantains; they pick up a hint of sweetness and fry to a proper, thick volteados paste.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the chirmol
- ½ white onionfinely chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh corianderchopped
- 1 limejuiced
- ½ tsp salt
For the plate
- 2 very ripe plantainsskin almost black
- 4 tbsp sunflower oil
- 14 oz cooked black beans1 tin, drained, liquid kept
- 8 eggs
- 4 oz queso frescovegetarian (microbial rennet), sliced
- 4 tbsp soured cream or crema
- 8 corn tortillaswarmed
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: For the chirmol, char 3 ripe tomatoes in a dry frying pan over a high heat, turning, until blistered and black in patches, about 8 minutes. Chop finely and mix with ½ white onion, 3 tbsp fresh coriander, 1 lime and ½ tsp salt.
8 minStep 2: Peel 2 very ripe plantains and slice on the diagonal 1 cm thick. Fry in half the 4 tbsp sunflower oil over a medium heat for 3 minutes per side, until deep golden and caramelised. Keep warm.
6 minStep 3: In the same pan, fry 14 oz cooked black beans with a splash of their liquid, mashing with a fork, for 5 minutes until thick and dry enough to hold a shape.
5 minStep 4: In another pan heat the rest of the oil and fry 8 eggs over a medium heat for 3–4 minutes, until the whites are set and the yolks cooked as you like.
4 minStep 5: Plate the eggs, beans, plantain, 4 oz queso fresco and a spoon of 4 tbsp soured cream or crema, with chirmol on the side and warm 8 corn tortillas.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 610 kcal
- Protein
- 22 g
- Carbs
- 66 g
- Fat
- 29 g
- Fibre
- 12 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does desayuno chapín take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ripe tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
- What can I use instead of white onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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