Atol de Elote
(Salvadoran corn beverage)
Atoles are very popular beverages in El Salvador with roots in Mayan cuisine. They are a sort of thick drink often eaten with a spoon. Atol de elote is based on fresh corn (elote) and has a wonderfully fresh flavor. For ultimate effect, serve it in a bowl made out of a dried calabash gourd.
Image 
by Whats4eats
4 to 6 servings
- Yellow corn on the cob -- 6 to 7 ears
- Water -- 4 cups
- Sugar -- 1/3 cup, or to taste
- Salt -- 1/2 teaspoon
- Cornstarch (optional) -- 3 to 4 teaspoons
- Ground cinnamon -- for garnishing
Method
- Using a sharp knife, carefully cut enough kernels off the corn cobs to make 3 to 3 1/2 cups. Then scrape the cobs with a knife to remove all their milk. Place 2 1/2 cups of the corn in a blender along with 2 cups of the water and puree well.
- Strain the pureed corn through a sieve into a medium saucepan and discard the solids. Stir in the remaining corn kernels, 1/3 cup sugar and salt.
- Bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until lightly thickened. If the atol doesn't thicken to a creamy consistency, mix the cornstarch with a little cold water and whisk into the simmering liquid until it is just thick enough to coat a spoon.
- Pour the hot atol into mugs or small bowls, sprinkle with a little cinnamon and serve hot with a spoon to scoop up the corn kernels.
Variations
- Frozen corn can be used in a pinch, but the flavor won't be nearly as good.
Notes
- Because the corn used in Central America is starchier, you may have to add the suggested cornstarch to achieve the lightly thickened consistency.
A more authentic version of this recipe
To make this recipe more authentic, use milk and cinnamon STICKS, not ground cinnamon and water. You can also sprinkle some ground cinnamon in each cup of atol de elote, but in El Salvador they use the whole cinnamon sticks to flavor this drink.
I tried this a few weeks ago
I tried this a few weeks ago at a Salvadoran restaurant here in the States and was hooked! Looking forward to giving this recipe a try.
hi im doing a year 10 school
hi im doing a year 10 school food tech assignment and i need to know about El salvador and i need 1 serving of this meal so i can cook it with in an hour so is there any chance that any of you people who know about this resipe can you please help me thank you
I tried it with more
I tried it with more water.
Water -- 6 cups
Try that :)
Let me know what you think!
Thanks for the post!
- Farmville Cheats
Every construction site
Every construction site roach coach has it, and it's Mexican Carnation Instant breakfast! It's muy bueno! Warms your whole body up, and makes you ready for a HARD day of rough work! Then....at lunch, what else? Papusas & Tamales! I love Mexican and Salvadoraneo fuud.
De Paisano a Paisano
wondering
hey~ this drink actually sounds good to me....
I was wondering if anyone has tried it with rum?
I love how clear rum adds the kick in coquito , however
i don't want to ruin its favor ...anyone ever try it ?
Atol de elote
It is so good. I tried it in Elsalvador and was hooked. There they make it with milk and strain the corn threw a dish cloth Hours of work.
You could also add 1-2 star
You could also add 1-2 star anise for flavor
You may want to add a few
You may want to add a few cubes of cured cheese while its hot they melt within the drink and you can fish them out while eating it with a spoon. That's how we do it in Cuba.
U cant say nothing till u try it
all the Gunacos(ppl from el salvador) love it its so good if u dont like it then somethings wrong with u. That means u need to learn new stuff from us.
Wow
Wow, I cannot believe it actually tastes good, whod a thunk it eh? I do need more cornstarch though, it fools you palette into thinking you are not drinking dinner.
Sooo good
I tried this recipe and it is a lot better tasting then you would think. I used cream cheese instead of the corn starch to make it thicker and creamier, it was soooo good. give it a try...
Sooo Good
This is really good, despite what you may think when you first read the recipe. I put a bit of cream cheese in it, and it made it even better, and nice and thick, try it out. It reminds me of Gazpacho...
Don't forget to add the
Don't forget to add the cornstarch to this recipe because as they advise, the corn you normally found in USA and Canada is not the same!
I add two or three cinnamon sticks to this recipe because it improves its taste. The ground cinnamon is good but I see it more as part of the presentation.
Atol De Elote
When I first tried this I was soooo hooked, Its really like a creamy soup that is slightly sweet. I'm glad to find a recipe for it. I live in S. Florida, & we are so fortunate to have many ethnic foods from all over the globe. The Pupusas from El Salvador are also a treat,cto those who have not tried different things you are really missing out. For those stuck with a McDonalds mentality there is life beyond the burger & fries try it sometime .Sue
gross
sounds really gross
To Gross:
Your comment was stupid and ignorant. If you don't want to explore new recipes, go to McDonald's and eat BigMacs for the rest of your life. Why surf the net looking for new and different recipes if you are going to be so closed-minded. YOU sound really gross.
It's good
I find it so funny everyone saying it sounds gross when the ingredients sound like it would be good. what sounds so gross about this recipe? Thats like someone saying they think wheat grass drinks are gross but thats also good and good for you. But this is corn. Who doesn't like corn?
This is the BEST drink ever.
This is the BEST drink ever. When I was growing up my mom would make cream corn all the time. Years later when I started to date a latino man we went out to eat and he ordered me one. It was love at first taste lol. It reminded me of my moms cream corn.....Awwww
I don't understand why some
I don't understand why some people feel the need to write negative comments. If you have not tried "it", then keep your comments to yourself! There are just too many stupid, ignorant, negative, hateful people out there. I was born in El Salvador and have been living in the U.S. for over twenty-five years. I love american, italian, japanese (i love sushi), mexican, chinese, korean, guatemalan, Philipeno and indian food. Yes, I have tried it and loved it all. I think people should be open to try new things even if it is only one time. I was looking for a recipe to make champurrado (a mexican drink) and look where I ended up! I will definitely try this recipe.
wow
Hey you have no right to call people "stupid, negative, hateful people..." yes there might be some, but what do you care. Let them be. They don't want to try it, so be it. They don't want to. Just because of that you shouldn't be so negative towards them. Everyone is different and sometimes know what they like and don't.
like all
i agree with this comment it takes a very high cultural educated people to understand how different are we all over the world and trying new things is mi passion if I do not like well!! I do not put them down in any way and so with the customs and cultures it could be be very boring if we were all alike like a paper cut outs o factory assembly line people
Im so happy I found this
Im so happy I found this recipe,I will try it. I love this drink... P.S even my 10year old son loves it...
atol de elote
it is awesome, you may think its grose thats ok the more for those of us who like it.
ATOL
Just got back from lunch at Amelia's on Virgil here in Los Angeles...Had my usual wonderful mug of Atol de Elote...and it's delicious. If corn on the cob is good, why wouldn't a corn drink be good? Served hot, this is sweet and fresh tasting, and a great alternative to coffee with or after your meal.
Dare yourself to try it. Live dangerously.
holaa=]
this actually does sound really digusting! a drink made of corn!! ehww!!
i think you are very
i think you are very ignorant. and maybe don't even know how to cook. i will suggest for you to educated your self
???
Do you realize you consume corn in great quantities on a regular basis. Most of the products you buy at the market contain one form or another of corn. And yes this drink is delicious.
what do you think beer is u
what do you think beer is u artard
corn is ctually used in alot of drinks that u have probaly tried
sounds gross=[
sounds really gross
Re: "sounds really gross"
Anonymous, have you tried this atol? it has a different and unique taste but if you don't like it, just say it but don't say is gross. The food is part of the culture and when you speak this way you disrespect the Salvadorian culture.
atol de elote
Sweety:
You should not critisize the foods of other country with out trying it first. Good luck in your search of cultural experiences... An Israeli that lived and tasted food from this country EL SALVADOR.-
Its very tasty and good, to
Its very tasty and good, to the last drop.
Think of oatmeal and substitute corn.
Custards are often looked as gooey, but is not bad.
Believe or not. It takes time to try something new.
Enjoy.
it sounds gross but its
it sounds gross but its really good
ignorant
You don't know about food this is a very delicious drink. You are ignorant learn about different foods. Don't just eat top Ramen and hamburger helper
Learn to eat!!!
Its not gross. It show you don't know about foods.!!
Atol de Elote
Your Crazy for saying its gross, Anyone will get hooked..... you must be mexican, go eat your champurado....lol
Excuse me!
but Mayans also live in mexico! plus champurrado is just atole with chocolate
atol de elote
Just because someone wrote "it sounds or its gross", doesn't mean you Mexican. I'm a proud Mexican and I love atol de elote...so do thousand of mexicans. You must not like Mexican. Don't ASSUME what your don't know. Oh yeah....lol
It's A Great Treat
It's sounds gross, but it's actually very delicious. And no, i'm not Latin, i'm American. I used to work with a lot of Salvadorians and when they offered me the drink i thought the same thing! Point it, don't knock it until you try it.
its gud(every salvadorian
its gud(every salvadorian lov's it)
Atol de elote: Atol de pina
Have u also tried atol de pina? its REALLY good. Theres also one that called atol de maize tostado (atol of toasted corn) I love atol! :D
it does sound weird
on da real, dis do sound a lil nasty. but imma taste it b4 i say it won't be good. if all dese ppl done commented sayin its good i won't be da one 2 hate on it jus cuz it soubd a lil different
To skinnyeeyore93
Your comment was very positive because you stated that you would not say the recipe isn't good until you try it for yourself. However, I do have to say that you are not doing yourself any favors by deliberately using ghetto slang and poor grammar to get your point across.
I know you probably want to sound "cool" and "gansta", but to many people you will only appear to be uneducated and other negative adjectives - like the person who is stupid enough to think that you are an uneducated "latin". How he/she determined your supposed race simply by reading your posting is beyond me. To me, you sound like an intelligent person who thinks before they make judgements, which is a good thing. An intelligent person who is using slang to communicate.
This drink is not nasty at
This drink is not nasty at all.It is so good.Don't knock it till you try it!!
before you write a comment
before you write a comment please make sure it is in an actual language. What you wrote was merely an abomination of the english language. You did nothing to get a point across and merely made yourself sound ignorant. If you do not want to be the one to hate on it then please write in a way that others can properly understand. You are doing nothing more than allowing a negative stereotype of uneducated latins to continue
obviously they got the point
obviously they got the point across because you were able to glean their meaning, although not eloquently......