Mote con Huesillo (Chilean Dried Peach and Wheat Berry Drink)
In short: A cold summer refresher of dried peaches simmered in a cinnamon syrup, served over cooked husked wheat with plenty of ice. It takes about 1 h 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 1 h 40 min
- Resting
- 10 h
- Total
- 1 h 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 225 kcal
Mote con huesillo is Chile's favorite summer street drink, sold from carts in plazas, beaches and stadiums. A glass holds soft husked wheat (mote), a rehydrated dried peach (huesillo) and the cold, sweet, cinnamon-scented peach syrup it was cooked in. You drink the syrup and eat the peach and wheat with a long spoon. It takes planning because the dried peaches and wheat both need an overnight soak.
Instructions
- The night before, soak the wheat in plenty of cold water. In a separate bowl, soak the dried peaches in the 1.5 L (6 cups) of water.
- Drain the wheat and put it in a pot with fresh water to cover by 5 cm (2 in). Bring to a boil, then simmer for 60 to 75 minutes, adding water as needed, until tender with a slight chew. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Meanwhile, put the peaches and their soaking water in a saucepan with the sugar, cinnamon and orange peel. Bring to a boil, then simmer gently for 20 to 25 minutes, until the peaches are plump and soft.
- Cool the peaches in their syrup completely, then chill for at least 2 hours. Remove the cinnamon and peel and taste, adding a little more sugar if needed.
- Spoon about 3 tablespoons of cooked wheat into each tall glass, add a peach half, fill with cold syrup and add ice. Serve with a long spoon.
Tips
- Mote can be hard to find outside Chile. Wheat berries or pearled farro cooked until tender work, and canned hominy gives a softer, corn-like version.
- The drink keeps for 4 days in the fridge, but add ice only when serving. Go easy on the sugar at first, because dried peaches are already sweet.
Questions and answers
What are huesillos?
Huesillos are dried peaches that still have the pit inside. Dried peach halves are an easy substitute.
Can I make it without the wheat?
Yes. Serve the peaches and syrup on their own, or add cooked pearl barley or hominy instead. The wheat adds a chewy contrast.
Is mote con huesillo a drink or a dessert?
It is both. Chileans drink the syrup and eat the peach and wheat with a spoon, so it works as a cold drink on a hot day or a light dessert.
How long does it take to make Mote con Huesillo (Chilean Dried Peach and Wheat Berry Drink)?
About 1 h 55 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 1 h 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Mote con Huesillo (Chilean Dried Peach and Wheat Berry Drink)?
About 225 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 51 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 225 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 51 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 38 g |
| Sodium | 15 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
