How long can I store leftovers?

Store leftover mote pillo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Can I make this dish ahead?

The mote can be prepared in advance, but the eggs and salsa are best made fresh.

How can I make it less spicy?

Reduce or omit the jalapeños in the aji salsa for a milder flavor.

What can I substitute for mote (hominy)?

You can use canned corn or cooked quinoa if hominy is unavailable.

How do I poach eggs perfectly?

Use fresh eggs and add vinegar to the poaching water for best results.

Silky Ecuadorian Mote Pillo with Poached Eggs and Fresh Aji

Name: Silky Ecuadorian Mote Pillo with Poached Eggs and Fresh Aji
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Breakfast
Ingredients: Cooked mote (hominy); Large eggs; Butter; Vegetable oil; Scallions, finely chopped; Salt and pepper; Large eggs; White vinegar; Water; Tomatoes, finely chopped; Red onion, finely chopped; Jalapeño peppers, finely chopped; Cilantro, finely chopped; Lime juice; Salt

A traditional Ecuadorian breakfast dish brought to new heights

This comforting dish combines creamy hominy (mote) with scrambled eggs, infused with the fragrant flavor of scallions, and is complemented by perfectly poached eggs and a spicy aji sauce for an extraordinary breakfast experience.

1 h
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Mote Pillo

Cooked mote (hominy)

2 cups

Large eggs

Butter

1 tbsp

Vegetable oil

1 tbsp

Scallions, finely chopped

1/2 cup

Salt and pepper

To taste

For the Poached Eggs

Large eggs

White vinegar

1 tbsp

Water

For poaching

For the Fresh Aji Salsa

Tomatoes, finely chopped

2 large

Red onion, finely chopped

1 small

Jalapeño peppers, finely chopped

Cilantro, finely chopped

1/4 cup

Lime juice

1 tbsp

Salt

To taste

Preparation

Preparing the Mote Pillo

Heat fats

Heat the butter and vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Sauté scallions

Add the finely chopped scallions and sauté until translucent.

Add mote

Stir in the cooked mote and season with salt and pepper.

Do not overcook the hominy; it should remain slightly firm for texture.

Making the Fresh Aji Salsa

Combine ingredients

Mix chopped tomatoes, red onion, jalapeños, and cilantro in a bowl.

For a milder aji, remove the seeds from the jalapeños before chopping.

Season salsa

Stir in the lime juice and salt. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Rest salsa

Let the salsa sit for at least 10 minutes for flavors to meld.

Cooking Process

Scrambling Eggs

Beat the eggs and pour into skillet with mote, stirring gently to create creamy scrambled eggs.

Poaching Eggs

Bring a pot of water with vinegar to a simmer, create a swirling motion in the water, and gently drop eggs in to poach for 3-4 minutes.

Final Assembly

Spoon mote pillo onto plates and top each serving with a freshly poached egg and aji salsa.

Plating & Serving