The weather has been perfectly chilly and has sweet, warm Canjica written all over it!
Oi Gente!!
Canjica, a Brazilian white corn and coconut porridge, is very popular in Brazil. It is a little like rice pudding, but it’s made with white corn and tends to have a little more liquid.
This sweet tradition is a must-have dish throughout the winter, particularly during Festas Juninas (translates to something like June parties) – check out this post to learn little more about Festa Junina, and see another popular dish.
Canjica is pretty simple to make and is a great breakfast, snack or dessert.
It is sooooo good! I mean, sweet, warm, coconut-y milk, with subtle notes of cloves, cinnamon and vanilla… seriously, what’s not to love?
Make it! And let me know what you think! Take a picture of your Canjica and share with me on Instagram by tagging me or using #cookingwithaline
Bom Apetite!
Beijinhos!! xoxo
Canjica Recipe Step by Step
To start we need white hominy corn – the dried kind, not the one from a can. I use this one that I buy at Amazon.
But here is another brand you can use, also sold at Amazon.
Then, just wash the corn well until the water runs clear.
Don’t these look like teeth? haha
Add the washed corn to an instant pot, or pressure cooker, cover with the water, and let it cook for about 40 mins.
While the corn is cooking, we can hydrate the coconut… I used this one, but any dehydrated shredded coconut will work.
Then, on a separate bowl add the milk, the condensed milk, the coconut milk, the sugar…
and you can also add the vanilla bean to this mixture, while you wait for the corn to cook.
This is what the corn looks like cooked – puffed, firm, and with some water left. You can leave that water there…
Do a little taste test, just to make sure… when you bite it, the consistency should be firm like cooked wheat berries, or farro.
Then you add the milky coconut mixture to the pot, add the cinnamon stick, the cloves, and let it cook open (on sauté mode) for 10-15 mins.
And there you go!
The corn will continue to absorb liquid as it cools and will thicken significantly. You can thin it back down by adding a little bit more milk when its completely cool, or when you reheat to eat the leftovers then next few days.
I like my canjica on the creamy side, so sometimes I just leave as is – it’s ups to you!
Canjica | Brazilian White Corn and Coconut Porridge
This sweet dish will sure steal your heart! It’s sweet, milky, homey, and a perfect way to stay warm on a chilly day.
It is great as is, or with some cinnamon, or toasted coconut sprinkled to top.
Give it a try and let me know what you think! Take a picture of your Canjica, Brazilian white corn and coconut porridge and share with me on Instagram by tagging me or using #cookingwithaline
Bom Apetite!
Beijinhos!! xoxo
Brazilian White Corn and Coconut Porridge
Ingredients
- 5 cups of water
- 500 g package of white hominy corn
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups of milk
- 1 14 oz can of sweet condensed milk
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 cloves
- 1 whole vanilla bean or 1-2 tsp of vanilla bean extract
- 1 cup of dehydrated unsweetened, shredded coconut
- 1 13 oz can of coconut milk
- a pinch of nutmeg
Instructions
- Wash the corn using a strainer until the water runs clear, then let it drain for a few mins
- Add the washed corn to an instant pot, or pressure cooker, and add all 5 cups of water. Cover and cook on manual for 40 mins.
- While the corn is cooking, re-hydrate the coconut – In a medium bowl add the coconut, the milk, the condensed milk, the sugar, the coconut milk and the spices.
- When the corn is cooked, safely release the pressure and open the pan.
- Add the milk-coconut mixture to the cooked corn and cook on sauté mode (open) for 10-15 mins.
- Serve with some cinnamon or with toasted coconut (optional)
Looks delicious!
How much milk does this recipe take? I didn’t find it listed in the ingredientes…
Hi Natielle! Thank you! It IS so good!! And so sorry for missing it… *face palm* I’ve updated the recipe, thank’s for catching that!! xxx
This sounds so good!! Perfect recipe for comfort season!!
Yea!! Soooo true!! It’s awesome this time of the year!!
I love everything and anything coconut!! It looks soo good. I have to try this out!
Me too!!!! I put coconut on everything ahahah
This looks like something I’ll need to try soon!
You do!!!! You’ll love it, I’m sure!! 🙂
This is my kind of pudding Definitely going to try this
Try it and let me know!! It’s magiccccc!!!!!!
I just made this and it was absolutely delicious!!! So glad I came across your blog. Can’t wait to try out other recipes!
Yay, Mary!!! That makes me so sooooo happy!!! Thanks for letting me know you loved it and that you’re interested in other stuff. If you have any questions let me know! Glad to have you here 🙂
If I’m lactose intolerant, can I sub the 2C of milk for more coconut milk? Or do you think that would give it too much of a coconut flavor and I should try a different dairy free option?
Hi Taylor-Rae,
I haven’t tried or tested a lactose free option, but here’s what I’d suggest:
If you’re ok with dairy options that are lactose free like Lactaid brand milk for example, I’d try that first because that would be the closest substitution – just make sure that’s something you can consume. If you rather make it dairy free completely, you can totally use refrigerated/boxed coconut milk (the one the recipe already calls for is canned coconut milk, which is the creamy kind. The refrigerated/boxed kind is the type you’d put in your cereal, that type of stuff).
Please note you’ll also need a lactose free condensed milk for this recipe – Nestle has a lactose free condensed milk (that contains dairy) which should be pretty easy to find these days. For a vegan/dairy free version, there’s coconut milk condensed milk you can try as well.
Hope this helps,
Any questions let me know!
Aline
I’ve used this recipe a couple of times and it’s so good.