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Jugo de maca
Jugo de maca: warm maca root drink with milk, cinnamon and honey from Andean breakfast stalls
Before dawn at markets in Huancayo, Cusco and Lima, juice ladies ladle hot jugo de maca from big pots for workers on their way in: maca root, a turnip relative grown above 4,000 metres in the Junín highlands, simmered with milk, cinnamon and cloves and sweetened with honey or sugar. It tastes malty and toasty, a bit like butterscotch. The common mistake is stirring the powder straight into hot milk, which leaves gritty lumps; whisk it into a little cold milk first. Maca is not usually advised in pregnancy, so ask your doctor first if you are pregnant. Chef's tip: use gelatinised (cooked) maca powder if you can find it; it dissolves smoothly and is gentler on the stomach.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp maca powdergelatinised if available
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cloves
- 2 tbsp honey or sugar
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Whisk 2 tbsp maca powder with 4 tbsp of the 2 cups whole milk in a small bowl to a smooth paste.
Step 2: Heat the rest of the milk in a saucepan with 1 cinnamon stick and 2 cloves over a medium heat until steaming and small bubbles appear at the edge, about 4 minutes.
4 minStep 3: Whisk in the maca paste and simmer gently for 3 minutes, whisking, until slightly thickened and frothy. Don't let it boil over.
3 minStep 4: Take off the heat, lift out the spices and stir in 2 tbsp honey or sugar and ¼ tsp vanilla extract. Pour into mugs and drink hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does jugo de maca take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 8 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 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 whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of cinnamon stick?
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon per stick.
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