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Pinolillo
Toasted corn and cacao drink
Pinolillo: Nicaragua's toasted corn and cacao drink
Nicaraguans call themselves pinoleros after this drink, sold cold from plastic jugs at markets in Masaya and León and stirred up at home in gourd cups called jícaras. Toasted ground corn, cacao and a little cinnamon and clove are whisked into water or milk, giving a nutty, gently chocolatey drink with a soft, grainy body that settles if you leave it. Made with water or a plant milk it is vegan. Burning the corn while toasting is the mistake to avoid: it only needs to turn biscuit-coloured, and anything darker tastes bitter. Chef's tip: shake the powder and liquid in a lidded jar with ice instead of stirring, and there will be no lumps.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the pinol powder
- 5 ½ oz masa harina
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
For the drink
- 4 ¼ cups cold water or oat milk
- 4 tbsp sugarto taste
- 12 ice cubes (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Toast 5 ½ oz masa harina in a dry frying pan over a medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 6–8 minutes until it smells of popcorn and turns light biscuit-brown. Tip it out of the pan at once so it doesn't keep cooking.
8 minStep 2: When it is cool, mix in 1 oz unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tsp ground cinnamon and ¼ tsp ground cloves. This is your pinol; it keeps in a jar for a month.
2 minStep 3: Put 8 tablespoons of the pinol (about 80 g) and 4 tbsp sugar in a large jar, add a splash of 4 ¼ cups cold water or oat milk and stir to a smooth paste.
Step 4: Add the rest of the water and shake or whisk hard until frothy. Pour over 12 ice cubes, and stir each glass before drinking as the corn settles.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 130 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 27 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pinolillo take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 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 unsweetened cocoa powder?
- Drinking chocolate, same amount (sweeter, so cut the sugar).
- What can I use instead of ground cinnamon?
- A cinnamon stick, ground: about ½ tsp per stick.
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