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Morocho
Morocho: Quito's warm cracked white-corn drink with milk, cinnamon and raisins
Morocho is what Quiteños drink on a chilly evening at a market stall, often with a crisp empanada de morocho alongside: cracked white corn simmered for an hour with milk, cinnamon and cloves until it turns into a thick, creamy drink you half sip, half spoon, studded with plump raisins. It tastes like a gently spiced rice pudding made with corn. The usual mistake is adding the milk too early and not stirring, so it catches and scorches on the bottom of the pan. Chef's tip: soak the corn overnight; it cooks faster and more evenly and turns properly creamy.
- Total time
- 80 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 7 oz cracked white corn (maíz morocho partido)soaked overnight in cold water
- 1 litre water
- 1 litre whole milk
- 4 cloves
- 4 oz panela or sugarto taste
- 2 ⅛ oz raisins
- 1 pinch salt
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Drain 7 oz cracked white corn (maíz morocho partido) and put it in a heavy pan with 1 litre water, 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 cloves and 4 allspice berries. Bring to the boil, then simmer for about 40 minutes, stirring now and then, until the corn is tender and most of the water has been absorbed.
40 minStep 2: Pour in 1 litre whole milk and bring back to a gentle simmer over a medium-low heat, stirring often and scraping the bottom.
8 minStep 3: Add 4 oz panela or sugar, 2 ⅛ oz raisins and 1 pinch salt and cook for 15–20 minutes more, stirring frequently, until the drink is thick and creamy and the corn is very soft.
20 minStep 4: Fish out the whole spices if you like. Serve hot in mugs; if it thickens too much on standing, loosen it with a splash of hot milk.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does morocho take?
- About 80 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 70 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 whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of cinnamon sticks?
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon per stick.
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