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Huitlacoche

Huitlacoche is corn smut fungus harvested from maize and used as a savory filling, sauce ingredient, or taco topping.

Huitlacoche — illustrative ingredient image

About Huitlacoche

Huitlacoche is the edible fungal growth that develops on maize ears, replacing parts of the kernels with swollen, irregular tissue. Harvested while tender, it is used in fillings, sauces, soups, quesadillas, and tacos, where it functions as a savory ingredient rather than as ordinary corn.

Fresh huitlacoche is usually gray, blue-gray, or nearly black, with a soft, moist texture. Cooking gives it a tender consistency and earthy, savory, mushroom-like flavor. Fresh, frozen, canned, and jarred forms can differ in moisture, firmness, saltiness, and intensity of flavor.

It is commonly sold fresh or preserved, either loose or incorporated into prepared foods. Chopping and sautéing soften and concentrate it, while simmering blends it into sauces and soups. Canning and jarring produce a more shelf-stable form that may be softer or saltier than fresh huitlacoche.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where huitlacoche appears

1 linked foods

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Street food

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for huitlacoche

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Huitlacoche

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Huitlacoche nutrition & diet

Huitlacoche nutritional value

Product example: HUITLACOCHE (Goya Foods, Inc. )

Per 100 g of this specific product as recorded by USDA, per 100 g.

Calories
23kcal
Protein
0.9g
Carbs
0.9g
Fat
5.6g

A product-specific label example, not a generic average. Formulations can change; use the nutrition label on the product being eaten.

Portions & preparation

Match the reference to edible huitlacoche harvested from maize, whether fresh, canned, frozen, or cooked. Drainage, sautéing, stewing, and use as a filling alter the portion being considered, especially when oil, salt, dairy, or other ingredients are included in the serving.

Compare the right form: Use huitlacoche from maize in the same state—fresh, preserved, or cooked—and specify whether the reference covers drained fungus alone or a prepared dish.

Diet considerations

Huitlacoche is a fungus associated with maize rather than an animal ingredient. Compatibility depends on preparation: fillings and sauces may add dairy, meat, stock, or cereal-based wrappers. Its carbohydrate pattern also depends on the amount served and whether it accompanies tortillas, rice, or other maize foods.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: USDA FoodData Central branded product — HUITLACOCHE ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .