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Calabaza en Tacha
Calabaza en Tacha, or Mexican candied pumpkin, is a traditional Mexican dessert made from pumpkin, piloncillo, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 5 mins
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 292 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
- 16 ounces piloncillo
- 3 cups water
- 2 Ceylon cinnamon sticks
- 1 whole clove
- Zest of ¼ medium orange
- 5 pounds pumpkin, scrubbed and cleaned (about 1 small-medium pumpkin)
Instructions
- Add the piloncillo, water, cinnamon sticks, clove, and orange zest to a large pot or Dutch oven. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the piloncillo completely dissolves.
- Meanwhile, cut and discard the stem of the pumpkin. Slice it in half, discard the seeds and any stringy flesh, and cut it into 3 ½ to 4-inch chunks.
- Carefully add the pumpkin chunks to the pot skin side up.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 60 minutes. The pumpkin should be fork-tender, and the flesh should be a beautiful golden brown color.
- Carefully transfer the cooked pumpkin to a serving tray or bowl and set aside.
- Raise the heat to medium-high and reduce the piloncillo syrup for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve the candied pumpkin in bowls with a generous amount of syrup.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Piloncillo: If you can't find piloncillo near you, use 2 cups of dark brown sugar instead.
- Cinnamon sticks: If you can't find Ceylon cinnamon sticks, you can use regular Cassia cinnamon sticks instead.
- Make sure to layer the pumpkin pieces in the pot skin side up so that the flesh is able to touch and be submerged in the piloncillo syrup during cooking. The pumpkin will release a lot of liquid as well, so don’t worry if you think it doesn’t seem like enough liquid.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
292kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
75g
(25%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
0.3g
(0%)
Saturated Fat
0.2g
(1%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.01g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.04g
Sodium
23mg
(1%)
Potassium
1044mg
(30%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
63g
(126%)
Vitamin A
24137IU
(483%)
Vitamin C
26mg
(29%)
Calcium
118mg
(12%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 292
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 292kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 75g | 25% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 0.3g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.01g | 0% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.04g | 0% |
| Sodium | 23mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 1044mg | 22% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 63g | 126% |
| Vitamin A | 24137IU | 483% |
| Vitamin C | 26mg | 29% |
| Calcium | 118mg | 12% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.