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Chipa guasu
Paraguayan fresh corn and cheese bake, soft and soufflé-like
Chipa guasu (Guaraní for 'big chipa') is sopa paraguaya's softer cousin, made from fresh corn instead of cornmeal. The kernels are grated or blended into a milky purée and baked with onion, cheese and whipped eggs into a tender, gently sweet bake that rises and wobbles. It's a summer dish at Paraguayan asados and fiestas patronales (saints' days), eaten beside grilled meat or simply with a tomato salad. Chef's tip: fold in the whisked egg whites last; it's what makes chipa guasu light and puffed rather than dense.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 375°F (350°F fan) and butter a 25 × 20 cm baking dish.
Step 2: Melt 2 ⅛ oz butter in a pan over a medium-low heat and soften 1 onion for 8 minutes without colouring. Cool.
8 minStep 3: Blend 1 ¾ lb sweetcorn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed with ¾ cup milk to a coarse, milky purée; a few pieces of kernel left is good.
Step 4: Mix the corn with the onion, egg yolks from 4 eggs, 9 oz mozzarella or fresh white cheese, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp baking powder.
Step 5: Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks and fold them in gently in two batches, keeping as much air as you can. Common mistake: stirring hard; the whites collapse and the bake comes out heavy.
Step 6: Pour into the dish and bake for 40–45 minutes until risen, golden-brown and just set in the middle, with a slight wobble. Rest 10 minutes before serving.
45 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 17 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chipa guasu take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 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 butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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