Dulce de Calabaza (Candied Pumpkin)
1 pumpkin, cut into uniform pieces (peeled with center removed)
1 tablespoon quick lime (see note)
1 quart cold water
Soak pumpkin overnight in lime water, (water should cover pumpkin). To make lime
water dissolve quick lime in cold water.
The next day, remove pumpkin from lime water and wash 3 times in clear water.
Cover pumpkin with warm water and bring to boiling point, boiling for 5 minutes.
Drain pumpkin and wash twice in clear cold water. Allow pumpkin to drain 1 hour.
Pierce each piece in several places with a fork. This allows the sugar syrup to
penetrate when cooking.
Weigh pumpkin and use equal amount of sugar when cooking. Place pumpkin in a pot
and cover pumpkin with sugar. Moisten sugar with water and cook over very low
heat until pumpkin becomes crystallized - approximately 3 hours at 300 degrees
F.
Note from Nina: This is "Calcium Hydroxide" available at hardware stores. This
is a very tasty Mexican candy. |