Cachapa

Cachapa is a Venezuelan corn pancake made from fresh sweet corn kernels blended into a smooth, slightly chunky batter with milk, eggs, sugar, and salt. Unlike hoe cakes, which use dried cornmeal and have a dense, sturdy texture, cachapas are made from fresh corn, creating a naturally sweet, creamy pancake with visible corn pieces and a tender, almost custard-like consistency.

While hoe cakes serve as savory vehicles for sopping gravies, cachapas are traditionally eaten as a meal themselves, often folded around fresh cheese or served with butter. Home bakers will find cachapas require fresh or frozen corn kernels rather than cornmeal, and the batter is much wetter, producing thicker, more delicate pancakes that highlight corn's natural sweetness rather than its earthiness.