Cuisine : Cachapa - How to prepare this Venezuelan pancake

 

Cachapa is a traditional Venezuelan and Colombian dish made from fresh corn. It's a type of pancake or flatbread, typically served with cheese, ham, or other toppings. Here's a simple guide on how to prepare cachapa:

### Ingredients:

- 4 cups fresh corn kernels (or thawed frozen corn)

- 1 cup cornmeal

- 1 cup milk

- 1/4 cup sugar

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or queso de mano (Venezuelan cheese)

- Butter or oil for cooking

### Instructions:

1. **Blend Corn:**

   - In a blender, combine fresh corn kernels, cornmeal, milk, sugar, and salt.

   - Blend until you have a smooth batter. The consistency should be like pancake batter.

2. **Preheat Griddle or Pan:**

   - Heat a griddle or non-stick skillet over medium heat.

3. **Prepare Cachapa:**

   - Pour a ladleful of batter onto the hot griddle, spreading it out into a round shape.

   - Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese on top of the batter.

4. **Cooking:**

   - Cook the cachapa until bubbles form on the surface and the edges start to set.

5. **Flip and Finish:**

   - Carefully flip the cachapa to cook the other side until golden brown and the cheese is melted.

6. **Serve:**

   - Remove the cachapa from the griddle and place it on a serving plate.

   - Optionally, fold it in half or quarters.

7. **Toppings (Optional):**

   - Serve cachapa with additional toppings like ham, more cheese, or even a dollop of sour cream.

8. **Enjoy:**

   - Serve warm and enjoy your delicious cachapa!

Cachapas are often enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack. The combination of the sweet corn flavor with the melted cheese makes them a delightful treat. Feel free to experiment with toppings to suit your taste preferences.