Paletas: Mexican Popsicles

Kids as well as adults love an ice pop especially on a hot summer day. Paletas or the Latin America popsicle are made of fresh fruits usually sold in carts, stores and kiosk called paleterías. Fruits such as mangoes, strawberries, pineapples are pureed with a bit of sugar and frozen until it becomes solid and it popularly  ice-based popsicles . A variation of the paleta is the milk-based ice pop where milk and cream is added to the sweetened pureed fruit. Chocolates, coconuts and even rum are also a popular ingredients blended in the paletas. These frozen treats has gain popularity in the United States coz’ it’s a healthy alternative by using fresh fruits. Here are some delicious and interesting recipes that you can try. Prepare your popsicle molds a head of time.

Cucumber-Chili Paletas

This one is a bit spicy and very interesting in flavor. The adults loved it but for the kids it can go either way.

Ingredient

3 cups 1-inch chunks peeled, seeded cucumber

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup lemon juice

1 stemmed jalapeño chili, rinsed and deveined

Direction

* Mix together cucumber, lemon juice, chili and sugar

*Blend until smooth using a food processor or blender

*Strain the mixture and pour into the mold

*Cover mold and attached the sticks leaving an inch or two

*Freeze until it solidifies.

Mango Paletas

One of the more popular flavors available.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups 1-inch chunks ripe mangoes

1/4 cup sugar 3 tablespoons lime juice

Direction

*Mix together mangoes, sugar and lime juice

*Blend until smooth

*Strain the mixture and pour into the mold

*Cover mold and attached the sticks leaving an inch or two

*Freeze until it solidifies.

Piña Colada Paletas

You can spice it up by making an alcoholic version. Just add 1/4 cup of tequila

Ingredients

1 cup milk 1/2 cup 1-inch chunks fresh or canned pineapple

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon coconut extract

Direction

*Mix together milk, pineapple, sugar, vanilla and coconut extract

*Blend until smooth

*Strain the mixture and pour into the mold

*Cover mold and attached the sticks leaving an inch or two

*Freeze until it solidifies.

Strawberry Paletas

Another popular flavor and one of the most colorful in all the popsicles.

Ingredients

3 3/4 cups strawberries, rinsed and hulled

1/3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Direction

*Puree strawberry until smoothe

*Strain the mixture into a glass

*Add sugar and lemon juice

*Stir and mix them well together

*Pour mixture into the mold

*Cover mold and attached the sticks leaving an inch or two

*Freeze until it solidifies.

For an easy way of taking the paletas out off the mold, place the mold under warm water for 10 seconds of less to loosens it up.

These colorful iceys can be frozen up to 2 weeks, perfect for the summer or Cinco de Mayo festivities.This recipe yields 6 popsicles.

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