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Binatog
Boiled hominy with coconut
Binatog: chewy boiled white hominy with freshly grated coconut and a pinch of salt or sugar
Binatog is an afternoon snack sold from bicycle carts that ring their way through the side streets of Manila, especially around Tondo and Sampaloc, the vendor scooping steaming white corn from a big tin can into small cups. The kernels are plump, chewy and nutty, piled with snowy grated coconut and finished with salt or sugar to taste, so everyone gets it the way they like. It is simple, filling and naturally vegan. Dried white hominy (pozole corn) has already been treated with lime, which gives the chewy, popped kernels; if you can only find canned hominy, rinse it and warm it for 10 minutes instead. Chef's tip: keep the kernels at a gentle simmer; a hard boil splits them before they become tender.
- Total time
- 120 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 9 oz dried white hominy (pozole corn)soaked overnight in cold water
- 2.5 litres water
- 5 ½ oz freshly grated coconutor frozen grated coconut, thawed
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp white sugar (optional)for those who like it sweet
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Drain the soaked 9 oz dried white hominy (pozole corn), rinse it and put it in a large pan with 2.5 litres water.
5 minStep 2: Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer, partly covered, for 1½–2 hours, topping up with hot water so the kernels stay covered. Common mistake: draining too early; the kernels should be fully tender and many will have burst open like flowers.
110 minStep 3: Drain the hominy and toss it while hot with half of ½ tsp salt.
2 minStep 4: Spoon into cups, top with 5 ½ oz freshly grated coconut and sprinkle with the rest of the salt, or with 2 tbsp white sugar for a sweet version. Eat warm.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 310 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 9 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does binatog take?
- About 120 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 110 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 vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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