Corn Cake – Pastel de Choclo
Serves 12
In the sacred Mayan text the Popol Vul, the gods first made man with wood. Unsatisfied with the results, the gods destroyed the wooden men and remade them with corn. When one tries this dish, sweet, soft, crunchy, one will never forget why the Mayan gods made men from corn.
4 eggs
2 cups sweet corn
1 cup sugar, separated in 2 halves
½ tsp fennel seeds
2 tbs olive oil
2 cups milk
½ stick butter
1 tsp cinnamon
¾ cup corn flour
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
- Pre-heat oven at 350 F.
- Place the eggs a deep bowl and beat with a fork until mixture looks uniform. Set aside.
- Place the corn in a blender and blend until uniform. In a bowl, mix the corn with ½ cup of sugar, fennel seeds and oil.
- In a large pot, place the milk, butter, cinnamon and remaining ½ cup sugar. Bring to a boil, then lower to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and slowly stir in the corn flour. Add the corn mixture and pinch of salt.
- Return mixture to heat at medium-low to thicken, stirring for about 10 minutes. Remove from flame and let cool 10 minutes. Incorporate the eggs and baking powder. Mix well.
- Grease a 9x9 pan. Add the corn mixture and spread evenly over pan. Take to pre-heated oven for 40 minutes. Serve warm.
