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    BLANK » Recipe Index » Caribbean Dishes

    Chicheme (Vegan style)

    Last Updated January 2, 2023. Published January 22, 2018 By Charla 18 Comments

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    Bring some Panamanian flare to your household with this vegan style sweet corn drink called chicheme especially nice to sip on during the harsh winter.

    Chicheme drink

    Panamanian-chicheme

    I am so excited to share this tasty recipe with you all today.

    You're probably wondering why that is, well as you know I specialise in showcasing recipes which are gluten and dairy free while tapping into my Caribbean heritage.

    Well as you know the word "Caribbean" is an umbrella term, which constitutes are large number of islands, situated between north and south America.

    A brief history of Panama and it's Caribbean connection

    Most of us are familar with the more notable islands such as Jamaica. Cuba, Haiti, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados just to name a few...

    However, there are a few countries near by the aforementioned places which share some of that Caribbean culture - Belize and Panama.

    Although the primary language in Panama is Spanish due to its colonial history.

    A large number of the Panamanian population come from various Caribbean islands.

    Many of them went to Panama between 1850 - 1880 to build the railroads and the great canal.

    After  the completion of labour, the vast majority of islanders decided to stay and seek residence in Panama which explains why certain regions speak creole along with the similarities in a number of cuisines.

    Hominy-cooking

    I thought I would give my lovely readers some insight into the history of Panama and how it links into the Caribbean although it is geographically separate by location.

    What is chicheme?

    A sweet corn drink made from hominy. Hominy is dried maize kernel treated in lye or lime (from limestone not the fruit).

    Please note that you cannot eat hominy raw it has to be cooked. Interestingly,  you'll find cultural cuisines such as Mexican Costa Rican and the Caribbean itself which eat this type of corn.

    Corn plays a crucial role in many of our recipes, ranging from a dried sweet corn snack called Asham to some Corn Soup after a long night of partying hard.

    chicheme

    This porridge vs hominy corn porridge

    Although in Jamaica hominy is used to make porridge, it is not the same as Hominy Corn Porridge. It does remind me a lot of what I grew up on.  Overall, the main difference between the two dishes is the texture.

    Chicheme is a thin cold corn beverage, not watery but definitely not thick either well as the corn porridge that I grew up on is thickened with flour/starch.

    A vegan rendition

    My version of this porridge is vegan so I omit the use of cow's milk. There is no vegan replica (as far as I know) for evaporated milk, depending on the recipe, you can easily use this condensed coconut milk which is what I did. The colour of the drink will darken a little but the results are the same.

    I know so many people of Caribbean heritage or simply an avid lover of Caribbean cuisines who are dietary restricted and want to enjoy their favorite food and beverages that are foolproof.

    chicheme

    How long does the hominy corn take to cook?

    In total it shouldn't take more than an hour for the hominy to soften thoroughly. Use a spoon to determine its readiness by crushing some of the corn with the back of a spoon.

    Notes and tips

    • Make sure to soak the maize overnight, so it is soft and ready to boil the next day
    • Hominy corn is NOT the same as sweet corn and cannot be used as a replica.
    • If you don't want to use coconut milk simply use almond milk instead.
    • As the drink cools down it may thicken, if it does, it's normal thin it out with milk/water if required.
    • You can purchase dried hominy corn from any Asian, Caribbean or Latino grocery store
    • Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 days
    • For best results, once you have made the drink, allow it to completely chill before serving.

    Other Caribbean porridge's to try

    • Cornmeal porridge
    • Cornmeal Porridge With Hominy Corn
    • Akasan
    • Rice porridge
    • Oats Porridge
    • Green Banana Porridge

    **Don't forget to comment below and star rate if you have tried my recipes. Let's be friends and engage on Facebook and Instagram I also like to pin on Pinterest, where you can find more amazing recipes.**

    spoon scooping up the corn

    Chicheme (Vegan style)

    A simple latin american dairy free sweet corn drink - so good!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Panamanian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 223kcal
    Author: Charla

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup of dried hominy
    • a jar of condensed coconut milk see post
    • 3 large cinnamon sticks
    • 3 cups of almond milk
    • 6 cups of water
    • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon of himalayan pink salt

    Instructions

    • Rinse the hominy several times in warm water to release some of the lye/lime before finally placing the hominy in a large bowl with water (not the 6 cups) and soak overnight.
    • The next morning drain off the water and rinse again.
    • Pour the hominy into a medium size saucepan with the 6 cups of water along with the cinnamon sticks and pink salt then bring to a boil.
    • Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the saucepan with the lid and allow to simmer.
    • Check the saucepan frequently to ensure there is enough water, it should take almost an hour for the hominy to soften and there should be just enough water in the pan to cover the corn.
    • Once cooked remove the saucepan from the stove then proceed to stir in the almond milk, condensed coconut milk (to taste) and vanilla extract.
    • Allow the chicheme to completely cool before refrigerating.
    • Serve with a dash of nutmeg on top

    Notes

    • Make sure to soak the maize overnight, so it is soft and ready to boil the next day
    • Hominy corn is NOT the same as sweet corn and cannot be used as a replica.
    • If you don't want to use coconut milk simply use almond milk instead.
    • As the drink cools down it may thicken, if it does, it's normal thin it out with milk/water if required.
    • You can purchase dried hominy corn from any Asian, Caribbean or Latino grocery store
    • Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 days
    • For best results, once you have made the drink, allow it to completely chill before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Sodium: 706mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 281mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @ThatGirlCooksHealthy or tag #ThatGirlCooksHealthy!

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    About Charla

    I'm Charla. Caribbean foodie & Certified Health Coach. Welcome to the heaven of gluten and dairy free recipes as well as modernised healthier alternatives to some of your favourite Caribbean recipes.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ardi

      January 08, 2020 at 8:49 pm

      This is very good, however, after chilling in the frig the coconut milk predictably solidified. How do I get around this problem if it’s meant to be served cold? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Charla

        January 08, 2020 at 10:00 pm

        Hi Ardi. I'm glad you liked the recipe. The coconut milk should return to its liquid state at room temperature. If not, leave it to stand at room temperature and add a splash of water/coconut milk and that should loosen up the chicheme.

        Reply
        • RIKA CHINITA

          February 25, 2020 at 10:12 pm

          IN LA PALMA DARIEN PANAMA...WE LIKE HOT CHICHEME

          Reply
          • Charla

            February 26, 2020 at 10:25 am

            Thanks for sharing that information Rika

            Reply
    2. Madeline

      May 10, 2018 at 1:54 am

      5 stars
      Hi, I'm doing a Spanish project for school and will be making Chicheme ( hopefully) . I can't seem to find dried hominy anywhere, is canned okay? Do i have to do something to it first? Please help- thanks!

      Reply
      • Charla

        May 10, 2018 at 10:37 pm

        Hi Madeline. Canned should be fine but you would need to tweak the recipe a little as this recipe is specifically for the dry corn . Use 1 1/2 cups of water instead and boil the hominy for 20mins instead. Then add the almond milk, 2 cups should be enough along with the rest of the ingredients.

        Reply
    3. Jolie

      January 27, 2018 at 2:42 pm

      So interesting! Thanks for the lesson on geography and cuisine Charla! I have never seen hominy before at the shops though, do you have any pointers about where one might find it? Half expecting that I might start seeing it now that I know it exists though...

      Reply
      • Charla

        January 28, 2018 at 9:58 pm

        You are welcome. The best place to find hominy would be in an multicultural region/city which has ethnic stores i.e Latino, Caribbean or Asian.

        Reply
    4. Sues

      January 23, 2018 at 2:24 pm

      5 stars
      I've never heard of chicheme before, but it looks and sounds so delicious! Perfect for a chilly winter day 🙂

      Reply
      • Charla

        January 23, 2018 at 2:59 pm

        Thanks Sues. Yup! highly recommended for winter.

        Reply
    5. Sarah

      January 23, 2018 at 1:11 am

      I am finding this recipe completely intriguing and simply can't wait to give it a try! Looks so delicious!

      Reply
      • Charla

        January 23, 2018 at 12:54 pm

        Thank you so much Sarah. I hope you enjoy it 😉

        Reply
    6. Gina Marie

      January 22, 2018 at 11:55 pm

      5 stars
      I never had this before nor heard of it. Can't wait to give it a go!

      Reply
      • Charla

        January 23, 2018 at 12:20 am

        I hope you enjoy it Gina

        Reply
    7. Liz

      January 22, 2018 at 11:15 pm

      5 stars
      Wow I've never heard of a corn drink! This sounds like a really cool recipe!

      Reply
      • Charla

        January 23, 2018 at 12:21 am

        Thanks Liz

        Reply
    8. Cliona Keane

      January 22, 2018 at 11:04 pm

      This sounds amazing! I've recently discovered just how healthy corn is so I'm planning on eating lots more of it and this is perfect!

      Reply
      • Charla

        January 22, 2018 at 11:05 pm

        Yay! That's what I like to hear Cliona.

        Reply

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    I'm Charla. Caribbean foodie & Certified Health Coach. Welcome to the heaven of gluten and dairy free recipes as well as modernised healthier alternatives to some of your favourite Caribbean recipes. Learn more about me

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