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Pozol de cacao
Tabasco and Chiapas' cold corn and cacao drink, drunk from a gourd (pozol)
In the heat of Villahermosa and the Chiapas lowlands, farmers carry a ball of corn dough in a banana leaf and mix it with water in a jícara (a gourd bowl) at midday: that is pozol, a cold, thick, filling drink that has been made since Maya times. The cacao version is the favourite, sold from big clay pots at market stalls with ice, sometimes slightly fermented so it turns pleasantly sour. This home version uses masa harina and cocoa nibs, so it is ready in minutes; leave it to ferment if you want the tang. Chef's tip: stir it every time before pouring, as the corn settles to the bottom fast.
- Total time
- 23 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toast 2 ⅛ oz cacao nibs in a dry pan over a medium heat for 6–8 minutes, stirring, until they smell like roasted chocolate and darken a shade. Do not let them smoke.
8 minStep 2: Grind the nibs to a fine powder in a spice grinder or blender. Mix with 5 ½ oz masa harina, 1 pinch salt and 150 ml of the 4 ¼ cups cold water, and knead into a smooth dark dough.
Step 3: Blend the dough with the remaining water and 1 ¾ oz sugar or grated piloncillo for 1 minute, until smooth. Common mistake: making it too thin; pozol should coat the back of a spoon like a smoothie.
Step 4: For the sour fermented version, cover the dough (before blending) with a cloth and leave at warm room temperature for 24 hours, until it smells lightly tangy, then blend as above.
Step 5: Pour over 1 ice in bowls or glasses and stir well before each serving. It keeps for 2 days in the fridge.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pozol de cacao take?
- About 23 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 8 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.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
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