MOTE CON HUESILLOS AND THE BERRIES THAT FEW HAVE HEARD OF

March 11, 2017 SouthAmerica

A favorite Chilean dessert that is oddly different from anything in the US is called Mote con Huesillos. In Peru mote refers to corn grains, this is not the case in Chile. Likewise, huesillo should be related to word “hueso” which means bones in Spanish, and again, in Chile they confound the meanings of words. What is huesillo in Chile? Peaches, of course. So and odd name for sure. This syrupy drink comes with mote, referring to wheat berries, which is not really a berry, and very infrequently used in the USA except for paleo-lithic salads. It’s hard to imagine a bunch cave men hunkered down in a smoky shelter munching on salad greens! A wheat berry refers to the entire wheat grain, being germ, endosperm, and bran. Hard wheat berries are used for cracking and in coarse textured breads whereas soft wheat berry is used in pastries. Mote con Huesillo comprises a sweet drink with cooked wheat berries and dried peaches, but to pull off the dessert in the USA a few changes have to be accepted. This Chilean drink is what you will find in a hot day during the summer season; it is very refreshing and sweet.

https://www.southamericatotheworld.com/ — Wheat berries with dried apricots

Mote con huesillos – Chile

This recipe is best to make one day in advance.

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 cup soft wheat berries

2 liters of water

1 cinnamon stick

1 cup sugar or any sweetener you like

1 10oz. dried apricots (in Chile they used dried peaches)

Preparation

Cook the wheat berries following the instruction in the package; once cooked let it cool down and refrigerate for the next day.

For the dried apricots

In a big pot add the dried apricots with the 2 liters of water and soak for at least two hours, then add the cinnamon stick and bring to a boil. Once the apricots are cooked remove them and leave aside to cool down and then refrigerate it. Also discard the cinnamon stick and simmer while adding the sugar or any other sweetener to your liking, taste and leave to cool down. Refrigerate until the next day.

For serving

In a short glass put some of the cooked dried apricots, 4 tablespoons or more of the cooked wheat berries, and top off with the apricot juice. Serve with a teaspoon.

Enjoy!

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