Can you eat huitlacoche when pregnant?
In this article we are going to answer: can you eat huitlacoche when pregnant, what is huitlacoche, what is the nutritional value of huitlacoche, where and how you can buy it, and how you can cook huitlacoche.
Can you eat huitlacoche when pregnant?
Yes, you can eat huitlacoche when pregnant. Some people have said that it is unsafe when pregnant because it can cause premature childbirth or miscarriage there is not enough evidence about this.
Because huitlacoche is a fungus, it can cause allergic reactions or asthma episodes. So if you have asthma better not eat huitlacoche.
What is huitlacoche?
Huitlacoche is a fungus that grows on corn. You can also find it as corn smut, huitlacoche, or Mexican truffle. It is soft and velvety and tastes smoky and earthy like mushrooms with a bit of corn.
It has been used as a medical remedy and eaten for centuries. The Aztecs used it in many dishes such as stews and tamales. Is still a very important part of Mexican dishes such as quesadillas, filling in any meal, tamales, and stews.
Is huitlacoche healthy?
Huitlacoche can be found fresh, frozen, or canned. The nutritional value of huitlacoche usually is:
| 4 oz (112 grams) | |
| Calories | 70 calories |
| Total Fat | 6 grams |
| Sodium | 180 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 3 g |
| Net Carbs | 3 g |
| Protein | 1 gram |
| Vitamin C | 1.8 mg |
| Iron | 0.7 mg |
4 oz of huitlacoche has a very good quantity of protein and it has all the essential amino acids usually found only in meat. Also, it has a high quantity of antioxidants with antitumoral activity.
Usually, it is used as a filler so it is a very nutritious fungus you can add to anything in the kitchen. There is no exact benefit to eating it when pregnant but it is also not dangerous.
Where can I buy huitlacoche?
Huitlacoche can be bought during the summer months which is when corn grows. Outside of Mexico, you can find it in the supermarket. If you can’t find it fresh you can buy it canned or frozen. Before you use canned huitlacoche, remember to drain it completely.
Fresh huitlacoche can usually be found at farmer’s markets or in little Mexican stores.
How to store huitlacoche?
Fresh huitlacoche can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It doesn’t have a long shelf life so you better use it as soon as you buy it.
Frozen or canned huitlacoche has a longer shelf life. Once you open it, if you store it in the fridge it can last up to 6 months. If you store it in the refrigerator, pour it into an airtight container with a lid and it can last up to 5 to 7 days.
How can I cook huitlacoche when pregnant?
Huitlacoche is very easy to work with fungus. It is technically a vegetable and you can use it raw or cooked. Don’t be surprised if the fungus turns black with the heat, these also happen with mushrooms.
You can use it in sauces, with chicken, beef, or even to make corn with mayo and huitlacoche. You can’t even imagine what you can pair with huitlacoche because it goes well with everything.
Here is a recipe for mac and cheese with huitlacoche for you to enjoy when pregnant
- One cup of chopped huitlacoche
- 60 ml butter
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 2 cups grated gouda
- 3 cups milk
- Bay leaf
- Salt, as wanted
- Pepper, as wanted
- 2 cups corn kernels
- 1 sweet onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 340 grams of macaroni pasta
Chop huitlacoche while you cook pasta. Once pasta is fully cooked pour it into a bowl.
In a large saute pan use the butter and heat into it bubbles. Add the flour, and stir until completely mixed. Then, add the milk, bay leaf, salt, and pepper and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
Add the cheese and stir until completely melted. Then, add the corn kernels.
In a different saute pan, caramelize onion and garlic, and then add to the cheese mixture. Add the pasta and the huitlacoche at the end and mix.
Put in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350 F.
Want some recipes? Follow these links.
Conclusion
This article answered can you eat huitlacoche when pregnant, what is huitlacoche, what is the nutritional value of huitlacoche, where and how to buy huitlacoche, and how you can cook huitlacoche.
Citation
https://briefversion.com/is-it-safe-to-eat-huitlacoche
