Native to Peru, picarones are a unique blend of tastes that closely resemble a cross between pumpkin pie and doughnut. They’re made from sweet potatoes and squash, and then seasoned with anise, sugar and then deep fried like a doughnut. They are served with a homemade sugar sauce, similar to molasses.

Ingredients:

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  • 1pound sweet potatoes
  • 1pound pumpkin
  • 2 teaspoons aniseed
  • 1 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 ¾ tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 1pound all-purpose flour
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • 4 cups chancaca syrup
  • For the syrup:
  • 2 chancaca pieces
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 6 cloves, 1 fig leaf
  • 2 star anise
  • pineapple peels
  • 1 orange, whole