Name This Food: Paletas Mexicanas

So last time on Name This Food! I asked you what these delicious-looking objects were:

The answer is Paletas Mexicanas, or Mexican-style popsicles.



Paletas are Mexican frozen dessert popsicles that may be made with either a water or milk base. Paletas are sold in paleterías (ice cream shops), by mobile vendors called paleteros from carts or supermarkets.

There are different stories surrounding the origin of paletas that have not been verified. However, Tocumbo, in the Mexican state of Michoacán is considered the heart of paleta country in Mexico. One of the most successful paletería chains, now also found outside of Mexico, Paletería La Michoacana, was started by Tocumbo residents. Though paleterías bearing the name "La Michoacana" (or close variations) have proliferated, they are usually not formally affiliated.

Paleta flavors can be divided into two basic categories: milk based or water based. The composition of each flavor may vary, but the base is most often fruit. Paleterias usually have dozens of flavors of paleta including local flavors like horchata, tamarind, mamey and nanche along with other flavors like strawberry, lime, chocolate and mango. Distinctly Mexican ingredients like chili pepper, chamoy, and vanilla are often present in these paletas. Paleterias adapt their flavors to the tastes of the community and local availability of ingredients.

Strawberries and cream is one of the hundreds of flavors of paleta that you'll find in Mexico. Other unusual flavors include arroz con leche, tamarind-chile, and pineapple.

STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM PALETAS

MAKES FOUR ICE POPS
Ingredients
1 lb. hulled strawberries
1⁄3 cup sugar
1⁄4 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Purée strawberries in a blender. Set a fine strainer over a bowl; strain strawberry purée, discarding solids. Whisk in sugar, heavy cream, and lemon juice until sugar dissolves. Pour strawberry mixture into four 3–oz. ice-pop molds.
Transfer molds to the freezer and freeze until slushy, about 1 hour. Insert a Popsicle stick into each mold and freeze until pops are solid, about 3 hours more. To release ice pops from molds, run the bottom of the molds briefly under warm water.

Now, one of the more unusual flavours of paleta.

RICE PUDDING (ARROZ CON LECHE) PALETAS

MAKES 12 ICE POPS
Ingredients
3 cups whole milk
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise and beans scraped
1 cup short- or medium-grain rice
2 sticks cinnamon
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk mixed with 2 cups water
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1⁄4 tsp. kosher salt
1⁄4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Instructions

Bring whole milk, 1 1⁄4 cups water, and vanilla beans to a simmer in a 4-qt. pot over medium-low heat. Stir in rice and cinnamon sticks and cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender, 20–30 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks and stir in condensed milk mixture, vanilla extract, and salt. Simmer until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid, 10–15 minutes more. Remove pan from heat, stir in ground cinnamon, and let cool slightly.
Transfer mixture to twelve 3-oz. ice-pop molds. Transfer molds to the freezer and freeze until slushy, about 1 hour. Insert a Popsicle stick into each mold and freeze until pops are solid, about 3 hours more. To release ice pops from molds, run the bottom of the molds briefly under warm water.

CANTALOUPE & LIME PALETAS

 Makes 10 popsicles

1 ripe cantaloupe, seeded, peeled, and cubed (about 4 cups)
Juice of half a lime
1/4 cup (or more) simple syrup, to taste

In a blender, combine cantaloupe, lime juice, and simple syrup, to taste. Err on the side of sweetness as when the popsicles freeze, the sweetness diminishes. Blend until smooth.

Strain the mixture and pour into your popsicle molds, leaving about 1/2 an inch from the top of the molds. Cover and place in the freezer. Meanwhile, soak wooden popsicle sticks in

warm water (this will help prevent them from floating when you insert them). After two hours of freezing time, insert the sticks in the slushy popsicles. Continue to freeze for four hours or longer, until completely frozen.

Rinse the molds for 30-60 seconds under running hot water to loosen the popsicles. Un-mold and enjoy!


Now... Name This Food!