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Pinole
Pinole: toasted corn breakfast drink with cinnamon and piloncillo, from the Rarámuri of the Sierra Tarahumara
In the canyons of the Sierra Tarahumara in Chihuahua, Rarámuri runners set off at dawn carrying a pouch of pinole, corn kernels toasted on a clay comal and ground fine, to stir into cold water along the trail. Across northern Mexico it is still a breakfast drink, sweetened with piloncillo and cinnamon and stirred into water or warm milk. This version toasts coarse cornmeal at home for the same nutty, popcorn-like flavour. The common mistake is toasting over a high heat: the outside burns and turns bitter before the inside goes golden. Chef's tip: toast a big batch and keep it in a jar, so a morning cup is just two spoonfuls stirred into water.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 2 ⅛ oz coarse yellow cornmeal
- 2 tbsp piloncillo or dark brown sugargrated
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 cups watercold, or hot if you like it warm
- ½ cup almond milk (optional)
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Put 2 ⅛ oz coarse yellow cornmeal in a dry, heavy frying pan over a medium-low heat. Stir constantly for 5–7 minutes, until it smells like popcorn and turns a shade darker and golden.
7 minStep 2: Tip onto a plate to stop it cooking, then blitz in a spice grinder with 2 tbsp piloncillo or dark brown sugar, ½ tsp ground cinnamon and 1 pinch salt until fine.
Step 3: Divide between two mugs or glasses, whisk in 2 cups water a little at a time so it doesn't clump, and top up with ½ cup almond milk if you like it creamier. Stir again before each sip, as the corn settles.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 190 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pinole take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 7 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 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.
- What can I use instead of piloncillo or dark brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
- What can I use instead of ground cinnamon?
- A cinnamon stick, ground: about ½ tsp per stick.
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