Maiz Caquiao or Chaca [Video+Recipe] Sweet Cracked Corn w. Milk

Ingredients

• 1 cup chacá (hominy cracked corn)
• 3/4 cup sugar (white, granulated) ((may need more to taste))
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon cloves
• 1 tablespoon salted butter ((optional))
• 1/4 cup rice ((optional, if you prefer it pudding-like))
• 1/4 cup raisins ((optional))
• 4 cup whole milk
• 1 piece lime rind
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly-grated nutmeg
• 1 cascarita de limón

Instructions

1. 1

   --- 1. Soak ---

2. 2

   Soak the corn overnight in enough water to cover it plus a couple of extra inches.

3. 3

   --- 2. Boil ---

4. 4

   Boil: Discard the water and place the soaked corn in a deep pot, and add enough water to cover it plus a couple of inches.Boil corn until it is very soft. For this, I highly recommend you use a pressure cooker (it will take 45 minutes in a pressure cooker, and 2-4 hours in a regular pot). If you use a regular pot, keep an eye on it and add water as it becomes necessary to maintain the same level of liquid.

5. 5

   --- 3. Mix ---

6. 6

   Once the corn is tender enough that you can press it between your fingers, add sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves, butter and rice.

7. 7

   --- 4. Simmer ---

8. 8

   Cook over low heat until the rice is cooked through (about 15 minutes), stir often to prevent it from sticking and scorching, especially if you have added rice.Once the rice is cooked through, add the raisins, milk, lemon peel. Simmer, stirring often, until the liquid is creamy. Add the nutmeg.Taste for sweetness and add more sugar if you like.

9. 9

   --- 5. Serve ---

10. 10

    Remove from the heat. Discard the lime rind and the cinnamon sticks if you wish (we rarely do, people just eat around them).Serve warm, or chill before serving.