September 25, 2012

Huitlacoche, aka Corn Smut

Huitlacoche: it looks much more delicious after the Frida chefs prepare it!
Learning how to pronounce Huitlachoche is a right of passage for new Frida Bistro employees - while it takes a bit of time to get it right, it sounds much more elegant and appetizing than it's other name: corn smut.

Say it with me: WEET-LA-KO-CHEE.

In Mexico, an ear of corn "infected" with this fungus nearly quadruples the value of the produce!  So while it ruins the crop, it actually ends up being worth more than a healthy batch of corn.

The taste is complex - rich and earthy while retaining the natural sweetness of the corn.  It's even packed full of proteins, minerals, and other nutritious goodies!

At Frida we offer an extremely popular Quesadilla de Huitlocoche, as well as a Plantain Tort with huitlacoche cream sauce (which is uniquely gray and fantastic).

If your curiosity has been piqued you can pick up a package of huitlacoche in the Rico Market and experiment with your own creations!

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