Arroz con leche y Mazamorra morada, the peruvian "sweet marriage"

One of the greatest charms that Peru has without a doubt is its mega diversity; a country that is defined in a great mixture of races, customs and traditions that make it unique in the world. This cultural blend is also reflected in its gastronomy where many of its dishes and desserts combine flavors that complement each other perfectly and that has earned it to be recognized as one of the best in the world.

A sample of this is the famous dessert 'Combinado', which consists in a mixture of two of the most traditional Peruvian sweets: The mazamorra morada and The Arroz con leche. Each one with its own flavor, color and texture, both become an irresistible temptation when they get together.

The combination of these desserts is also well known as 'Clásico', in reference to the popular soccer derby that the most important teams of the country play: Universitario de Deportes and Alianza Lima. This is due to the ingenuity of the Peruvians who imitate the distinctive colors of both teams with the cream and purple tones of this sweet.

Mazamorra morada (Purple pudding)

The origin of this emblematic sweet dates back to pre-Hispanic times, when ancient civilizations prepared a recipe very similar to the one currently known, based on yellow corn, known as Ishkupcha. After the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, they added new ingredients to the preparation such as cloves, cinnamon, quince and sugar. However, what marked the success of the Mazamorra morada was the use of purple corn, which until then was not widely used.

Over time, the new recipe made its way during the time of the Viceroyalty and its consumption became a tradition during the festivities in commemoration of the Señor de los Milagros. When served very hot, it was a pleasant alternative to combat the cold during the nights of the Cristo Morado procession that took place in the streets of Lima. This, added to the purple color of its texture, so representative of this religious celebration, marked over the years a strong bond between the dessert and the devotees, which later spread to all of Peru.

The origin of this emblematic sweet dates back to pre-Hispanic times. Credit: Fernando López / PromPerú.

Arroz con leche

Although the origin of this sweet dates back to the Arab and Spanish cultures, the recipe as it is known today was created in Peru, and it is the result of the miscegenation that took place during the colonial era. The use of European ingredients such as rice, milk and sugar, in conjunction with local preparation techniques, resulted in a dessert as unique as it is delicious that transcended time.

Famous Peruvian writers like Manuel Atanasio Fuentes immortalized in their works this emblematic sweet with stories of Lima cooks who, with the shout of “Y la arrosee! … Arróo con leche!”, they sold this popular dessert that, over time, gained a place in the hearts of Peruvians.

The birth of this sweet dates back to the Arabic and Spanish cultures. Credit: José Cáceres / PromPerú

Sources: Comidasperuanas.net / Maletaaventurera / Peru21 / Rumbosdelperu.com

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