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colombianbreakfast

Mazamorra

Colombia's ancient corn porridge — white hominy corn simmered until tender and served with milk and raw cane sugar panela, a beloved Paisa breakfast and evening drink.

Prep
10 min
Cook
90 min
Servings
6
Difficulty
Easy
4.6(560 ratings)
#corn#porridge#paisa#panela#traditional

About This Recipe

Mazamorra (also called peto) is one of the oldest foods in the Americas, a preparation of dried white hominy corn simmered for hours until the kernels split and soften into a thick, starchy porridge. In the Antioquia region of Colombia, mazamorra is the essential second element of every Paisa meal — frijoles (beans) are the savory heart of lunch, and mazamorra is the sweet digestive end. It is poured into a cup, topped with cold milk, and sweetened with panela (raw cane sugar). The contrast of the warm starchy corn with the cold milk is deeply satisfying.

Ingredients

Serves 6

  • 400 gdried white hominy corn (mote pelado)(soaked overnight)
  • 2 litreswater
  • 1 tspbaking soda(to help soften)
  • 1 tspsalt
  • 100 gpanela (raw cane sugar)(to serve)
  • 500 mlcold whole milk(to serve)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Cook the corn

    Drain soaked corn. Add to a pot with water and baking soda. Bring to boil, then simmer 60–90 minutes until the kernels split open and are very tender.

  2. 2

    Season

    Season with salt. The mazamorra should be thick and starchy.

  3. 3

    Serve

    Ladle into cups or bowls. Pour cold milk over the top. Serve with grated or dissolved panela on the side for each person to sweeten to taste.

Pro Tips

  • Baking soda accelerates softening of the dried corn

  • The splitting of the kernels is the sign that the mazamorra is ready

Variations

  • Add cinnamon stick and cloves while cooking for a spiced version

  • Sweeten with brown sugar if panela is unavailable

Storage

Keeps 3 days refrigerated. Reheat with a splash of water and serve fresh milk cold alongside.

History & Origin

Mazamorra is one of the oldest food traditions in the Americas, with nixtamalized corn preparation dating back thousands of years in Mesoamerica. The Paisa version became central to Antioquia's food identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is panela?

Unrefined whole cane sugar sold in solid blocks throughout Latin America. It has a rich, molasses-like flavor that's distinct from refined white sugar.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving · 6 servings total

Calories320kcal
Protein8g
Carbohydrates64g
Fat4g
Fiber5g
Protein8g
Carbs64g
Fat4g

Time Summary

Prep time10 min
Cook time90 min
Total time100 min

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