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Bollo limpio

Steamed corn bundles

Bollo limpio: Barranquilla's plain steamed corn bundles in husks, eaten with cheese and suero

Before most of Barranquilla has opened its shutters, the bollo sellers are out with baskets of husk-wrapped corn logs. Bollo limpio is the plainest of them: white corn, soaked, cooked, ground and kneaded with nothing but salt, then tied in husks and boiled until firm. The result is dense and slightly springy, with a clean, sweet corn taste and a faint grassiness from the husks. It is torn open at breakfast and eaten with a slab of salty cheese and a spoon of suero costeño, or alongside fried fish and stews at lunch; this version itself is vegan. Plan ahead: the dried corn needs soaking overnight. If the dough is too dry, the bollos crack and turn crumbly, so knead in water until it feels like soft modelling clay. Chef's tip: if you cannot grind dried corn, 1 kg of ready-made unflavoured white corn masa from a Latin shop gives a close result; skip straight to the kneading.
Total time
180 min
Difficulty
medium
Serves
8
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Ingredients

Serves8

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What you'll need

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Method

0/9 done
  1. Step 1: Drain 1 ⅛ lb dried white hominy corn (maíz blanco pilado), put it in a large pot and cover with fresh water by 5 cm. Bring to the boil over a high heat.

  2. Step 2: Simmer for 50–60 minutes, topping up with water as needed, until the kernels are soft enough to squash between two fingers.

    55 min
  3. Step 3: Drain and leave until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes.

    15 min
  4. Step 4: Grind the corn in a hand mill twice, or in a food processor in batches, until it forms a fine, damp dough with no whole pieces left.

  5. Step 5: Tip onto a clean worktop, add 1 ½ tsp salt and knead for 5 minutes, adding ¾ cup water a spoonful at a time, until the dough is smooth, soft and does not crack when pressed.

    5 min
  6. Step 6: Divide the dough into 8 pieces and roll each into a log about 15 cm long.

  7. Step 7: Lay a log on two overlapping 16 dried corn husks, roll up tightly and fold the ends over. Tie firmly around the middle and near each end with 3 m kitchen string.

  8. Step 8: Bring a large pot of water to the boil, lower in the bollos and keep at a steady boil for 50–60 minutes, until they feel firm when squeezed with tongs.

    55 min
  9. Step 9: Lift out and rest for 10 minutes before unwrapping. They keep in the fridge for 4 days; reheat by boiling for 10 minutes or warming on a griddle in their husks.

    10 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
210 kcal
Protein
5 g
Carbs
44 g
Fat
2 g
Fibre
5 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does bollo limpio take?
About 180 minutes in total: 60 minutes to prepare and 120 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
8 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.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.

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