Just ordered Corn Smut (huitlacoche, cuitlacoche) - Now what??

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larry_stewart

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so I've been curious to try this for years.
Finally got around to order it and it will arrive later today.
Any suggestions on what to do with or what any of you have done with it in the past ?
 
Fresh or fresh frozen?

We ordered some about a year and a-half or so ago, frozen, when we ordered morels, ramps and fiddleheads. BTW, did you ever make that pizza (had asparagus too)?

Anyway, don't remember what we made with them. I think it was a couple of things in 1 meal. We weren't really impressed. They weren't bad tasting, just sort of a mushy mushroomy texture/flavor (respectively). Probably mushy because they were previously frozen.

If I remember correctly, most of the dishes made with them had chilis of some kind or another in them. Is your DW going to be brave and give them a go? ;)

We have one of Diana Kennedy's cookbooks so may have used a recipe out of there though not sure and I'm pretty sure we made quesadillas also with them. To be honest, we ended up eventually throwing the rest of the bag away because they just weren't something we really wanted again.

Maybe we just picked some bad recipes. Hope so for your taste buds!
 
I have only had it fresh. I sauteed it in butter added onions, garlic, chilis, and some corn milk. I love it. I would probably dehydrate it instead of freezing it if I were going to keep it. If what you ordered is frozen, maybe try dehydrating it and then rehydrate it, save the "nectar" and go from there? If frozen, I guess I would add it to posole...
 
FWIW, farmers get more for corn smut than an ear of corn, so some farmers infect the corn so that they can sell the smut to upscale restaurants, etc. I think they charge $2/ear for one with smut vs. $0.10/ear.
 
Never heard of eating it. Where I live it's considered a blight on corn. However, here's an interesting article about edible corn smut. This might give you a springboard on how to proceed.

Thank you Katie.! That really was an interesting article. However I doubt I would go out of my way to find some (or eat it) really just doesn't sound appetizing! :wacko::LOL:
 
Definitely getting it frozen.
Just one of those things That I've heard / read about over the years, and now I finally got the opportunity to experience it myself.
Dont know if its going to be a good, bad or ugly experience.
Im sure Ill be the guinnea pig.

Never did get a chance to make that pizza with the fiddle heads and all that. I think I made a variation of it, but didnt have all the ingredients at the time.

Anyways, the stuff apparently arrived, so Ill give it a go this weekend.
 
Common ingredient in Mexico. We'd always pitch the ears of corn infected with smut where I grew up. Who knew it was a prized delicacy?

Maybe look up some Mexican recipes? I've never had it that I know of.
 
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I just can't get past the name. :yuk::sick:

That's why they call it huitlacoche or cuitlacoche, much more mysterious, exotic and appetizing sounding (to North Americans) than corn smut.

So, did you try it Larry? Just curious considering our experience.
 
I did try its kind of.
All that was available, was the frozen product, which is what i got
Visually, obviously not the most attractive food item i've seen.

It came on a day while I was at work ( along with a few other products), so I instructed my son to let me know when it arrived, and Id instruct hime what to do with it ( since some products needed refrigeration while others needed to be frozen).

When he received it, he took pics of each item ( in their containers/ bags) and sent them to me so I could tell him how to store it until i got home.

After seeing the pics, i texted him back to put everything in the fridge except the bag that looks like frozen goat crap ( The corn smut).

When i got home, i read the instructions it came with, which basically said the best way to defrost ( then use) would be to let defrost in fridge over night ( which I did).

After defrosting, I kinda picked at it just to get a general idea of what i was working with ( taste, consistency ....).

I don't want to say it was bad, but then again, i can't say it was good either.

Some bits were better than others. Some were firmer, bit of sweetness, umami'ish, fungussy tasting, while others were mushy and bitter.

What was running through my mind, is the fresh version ( or unfrozen version) probably had a much better consistency than what I had in my house to use.

Without being to judgmental, I think i have to search for some fresh smut ( sounds disgusting) and play around with that before i can make my final evaluation of whether I like it or not.
 
Oh my goodness, even worse.... when I first saw the title of the thread out of the corner of my eye, I thought it said "Just ordered Porn Smut - now what?"

I thought, wow Larry, that's WAY too much information. And why are you asking us??? :LOL: :ohmy:

:LOL::LOL: Sounds like the eyes are going with age Steve.

Now I can't stop laughing! Thanks.
 
If you are flying in, I will run up to the beach and watch your plane land. And if it is low tide, I can just walk up to the runway and wave to you. Do you know which center you are attending? Either one is only five minutes from the airport.
 
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