Pati Jinich - How to Make Capirotada

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: agave syrup

Honey provides natural sweetness with additional nutrients.

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil adds flavor and is dairy-free.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: soy milk

Almond milk reduces calories and is lactose-free.

cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: vegan cheese

Nutritional yeast provides a cheesy flavor without dairy.

Place racks on upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350°F.

Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a small pan. Brush the surface of two large baking sheets with some of the melted butter and place the bread slices onto the buttered baking sheets in a single layer. Use the remaining butter to brush on top of the bread slices. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown on the bottom and remove from the oven.

In a medium saucepan, place the piloncillo, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and raisins, cover with the 8 cups of water, and set over medium-high heat. Once it comes to a simmer, stir occasionally, and let simmer for 30 minutes or until reduced by half. Turn off the heat. With a slotted spoon, remove the cinnamon stick, star anise, and cloves and discard. Set the piloncillo syrup aside.

Add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil to a large saute pan set over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, cook the plantain slices in a couple batches for about a minute per side, or until golden brown on both sides. Place the browned plantains on a paper towel covered plate and set aside.

Use the remaining tablespoon of butter to grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Add a third of the bread to make the first layer covering the bottom of the baking dish. Distribute all around half of the plantains, half of the mango, half of the Cotija, and half of the peanuts. Pour on about a third of the piloncillo syrup. Start another layer, adding a third of the bread and the remaining half of the plantains, mango, Cotija, and peanuts. Pour another third of the syrup, trying to get all of the raisins in. Finally, cover with the remaining third of the bread and pour the rest of the syrup on top. Cover with aluminum foil.

Set oven rack in the middle of the oven. Bake the capirotada for 25 minutes, then remove it from the oven, carefully uncover, and press down with a spatula so it all bakes in the syrup. Cover again with aluminum foil and return to the oven. After another 25 minutes, carefully remove the foil, and bake for about 10 minutes more so the top browns. Cool slightly before serving and sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens