Corn stew facts for kids

Mazamorra (at right, in Chile) is a type of corn stew. The version in the image is prepared with maize and beans

Corn stew is a yummy and filling dish made mainly with corn! It's a type of stew, which is a meal cooked slowly in liquid. People all over the world enjoy different kinds of corn stew. One very old type from South America is called Mazamorra, and it's made with simple ingredients.

What's in Corn Stew?

Corn is the most important part of corn stew. There are many ways to make it! A simple corn stew might just have corn, milk, butter, flour, and salt.

But you can add lots of other things too! Some people put in potatoes, beans, carrots, or tomatoes. Onions, garlic, and celery are also popular. You can even add different kinds of meat like chicken, fish, shrimp, or bacon.

Sometimes, cooks use a special mix called a roux to make the stew thicker. A roux is made by cooking flour and fat together. You can use fresh corn, or even canned or frozen corn and vegetables.

Did you know? Corn stew often tastes even better the next day! This is because the flavors have more time to mix and become even yummier. Corn stews are usually thicker than corn soups.

Corn Stew Around the World

Corn stew is a favorite dish in many places! It's popular in the Southern United States, Cajun cuisine, and in Native American cuisine. For example, the Hopi tribe has their own corn stew recipes. It's also a big part of South American cuisine.

Mazamorra: A Special Corn Stew

The dish mazamorra is a very old corn stew from the native peoples of South America. It's super simple to make, mostly with dried, cracked corn and water. The corn kernels are usually pounded into smaller pieces. Depending on the area, people might use white or yellow corn. The name "mazamorra" itself comes from these native groups.

Mazamorra is eaten in many countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. You can also find it in Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. In South America, there's a sweet version called mazamorra morada. This one is made with blue corn and berries, making it a delicious dessert!

Images for kids

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  Mazamorra with milk, in Argentina