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    Home > Brazilian Recipes

    Published: Jun 22, 2015 · Modified: Sep 19, 2018 by Denise Browning · "This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission." · 18 Comments

    Sweet Corn Pudding (Curau or Canjica Nordestina)

    Gluten Free

    Jump to Recipe ↓

    The June Festivals, known in Portuguese as Festas Juninas, are coming to an end. But not my cravings for dishes made from corn. Sweet Corn Pudding (Curau or Canjica Nordestina) is the dish for today! 🙂

    sweet-corn-pudding

    This is a pudding or porridge traditionally made from unripe maize, milk, and sugar. Because Brazilian maize contains more starch than sugar, there is no need to add cornstarch to the mixture. In Brazil, when the sweet corn pudding is warm it has a pudding-like consistency, and then firms up almost like a flan when it cools down. But the exact opposite occurs when sweet corn pudding is prepared with the most popular American maize, sweet corn-- it gets softer as it cools.

    pictures of hands husking corn and then cutting off the kernels with a knife on a board

    After making the proper adjustments, our sweet corn pudding was prepared with blended corn kernels, milk, salt, sugar, and sweetened condensed milk, thickened with corn starch. It is smooth and creamy... and can be eaten warm, at room temperature or chilled. It can even be frozen and transformed into ice cream, with no need for a machine. But I have to say that even adding corn starch, our pudding does not quite reach the firmness of a flan-like consistency.

    The name of this dish varies depending on what part of Brazil you are in... Curau is used mostly in southern states such as São Paulo. It is also called corá in Minas Gerais,  papa de milho or "corn porridge" in Rio, and canjica in the North and Northeast regions.

    Sweet corn pudding -- curau de milho

    No matter what it is called, the fact is, sweet corn pudding is simple to prepare, quick, and quite tasty. If you have never gotten to give it a try, now is your chance!

    Enjoy!

    a spoon full of corn pudding in a bowl
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    5 from 7 votes

    Sweet Corn Pudding (Curau or Canjica Nordestina)

    An easy and tasty porridge or pudding made from blended corn, milk, salt, sugar, and sweetened condensed milk, thickened with corn starch. Sweet corn pudding can be savored warm, at room temp or chilled -- or even transformed into ice cream.
    Keywords:dessert, pudding, snack
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 8
    Author Denise Browning

    Ingredients

    • 3 cans sweet corn kernels 15.25 oz or 432 g, or 4¼ cups or 8-9 ears of corn
    • 1 quart whole milk 946 ml
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ to 1 cup sugar
    • 6 tablespoons corn starch
    • 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 oz or 396 g
    • Ground cinnamon to sprinkle

    Instructions

    • If using fresh corn, clean the corn and cut off the kernels with a sharp knife. If using canned corn, drain the water and use only the kernels. Blend corn, milk, salt, sugar, and corn starch in a blender until obtaining a homogeneous mixture. Strain, pressing down with the back of a spoon to separate the juice from the corn kernel pulp. Discard the pulp and place strained mixture (liquid) into a medium nonstick pan. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk until mixture is homogeneous.
    • Cook over medium-low heat (large burner), stirring constantly, for about 15-20 minutes or until mixture has thickened and attains the consistency of a pudding. Pour into ramekins, sprinkle on the top with ground cinnamon, and serve warm, room temp, or chilled.

    ** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

    Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

     

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    Filed Under: Brazilian Recipes, Easy And Delish, Easy Gluten-Free Recipes, June Festivals, Quick & Easy Recipes Tagged With: pudding

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. June @ How to Philosophize with Cake says

      June 22, 2015 at 7:13 pm

      What an interesting pudding that sounds like! Sweet corn is a great flavor, I'm sure it works well in this custard 🙂

      Reply
    2. Little Cooking Tips says

      June 23, 2015 at 9:25 am

      5 stars
      Simple and delicious! We never tried a sweet corn pudding before and it sounds (and looks) amazing!:) The addition of sweetened milk (of course) makes all the difference.
      Ourselves, we only buy organic and GMO-free corn from trusted domestic suppliers. We think it tastes much better. So we 'll have to visit the market and buy some this weekend to try this.
      Thank you for the wonderful idea!
      Hugs,
      Panos and Mirella

      Reply
    3. Deb|EastofEdenCooking says

      June 23, 2015 at 8:13 pm

      What a fantastic pudding! I've sampled corn ice cream and it was fabulous! Corn has an abundance of natural sugar making it an excellent dessert component.

      Reply
    4. Amira says

      June 23, 2015 at 9:09 pm

      I've never tried corn pudding before... I would like some of that. Looks so delish.

      Reply
    5. Anna @ shenANNAgans says

      June 23, 2015 at 10:28 pm

      This sounds really interesting. I have Vietnamese friends who prepare a sweet corn soup style dessert, it was kinda confusing to my senses tho. I am looking forward to trying this, especially freezing it.

      I love corn, will grab a few cobs at the Farmers Markets on the weekend.

      Reply
    6. Sugar et al. says

      June 24, 2015 at 7:27 am

      Wow! Your creations are always amazing! I've never tasted this before...I wish I could taste this right now. So luscious and creamy. Love sweet corn...I have to make this one!

      Reply
    7. John/Kitchen Riffs says

      June 24, 2015 at 1:12 pm

      New dish to me, and one that looks terrific. And we'll be getting fresh local corn soon, so your timing is perfect! Thanks for this.

      Reply
    8. Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine says

      June 24, 2015 at 5:44 pm

      I have never heard of this but it sounds so... good! I love corn and use it all the time in savory dishes but never sweet. Time to change!!!

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        June 25, 2015 at 7:56 am

        Chris: It's like avocados. People in the US were only eating savory dishes prepared with avocados and nowadays are experiencing sweet ones as well. In Brazil, both corn and avocados have been used to prepare many, many dishes both savory and sweet for decades. Here in my blog you can find great sweet corn cakes with and without coconut as well as this pudding. I bet if you try, you will enjoy them.
        Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you a delicious day!

        Reply
    9. Raymund says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:05 pm

      5 stars
      I actually can do this when I go back home, looks like a nice dessert / snack to have later. Yum!

      Reply
    10. Shashi at runninsrilankan says

      June 25, 2015 at 2:41 pm

      I've never had anything quite like this - but the thought of the corn and condensed milk mingling has me drooling! I love learning about your traditional dishes, Denise!

      Reply
    11. Mi Vida en un Dulce says

      June 26, 2015 at 10:42 am

      In June we also have some festivals, "San Juan" day is one of the most important, but it's exactly in the same day we have the "Inti Raymi", which is a celebration that came from the Inca's, that is, it's older than San Juan, as the saints came to Peru when the Spanish came here.

      Reply
    12. Coffee and Crumpets says

      June 26, 2015 at 4:04 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yum! This pudding looks fabulous! I love corn and can only imagine how good corn pudding is. I'll have to try this as soon as the Colorado corn comes in.

      Reply
    13. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      June 27, 2015 at 6:08 am

      What an interesting post and dessert. I had no idea that corn could react so differently depending on where it is grown. I can just imagine how good this pudding is.

      Reply
    14. Dedy@Dentist Chef says

      June 29, 2015 at 11:56 am

      Simply damn delicious and comforting sweet corn pudding!!!
      can't wait to try some...

      Reply
    15. mjskit says

      July 15, 2015 at 9:19 pm

      I love a good sweet corn pudding, but I've never made one. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!!

      Reply
    16. Anne says

      June 12, 2022 at 1:13 pm

      5 stars
      I made this pudding for a Festa Janina party. My Brazilian sisters in law said it was the best corn pudding they’d ever had.

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        June 13, 2022 at 2:03 pm

        Hi Anne! I am so glad to hear that. And what a great sister-in-law you are!

        Reply

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