my comfort recipes
♥ Log in Sign up
  • en
  • fr
  • es
  • pt
  • de
  • it
  • nl
    • 🌍 World Kitchen
    🌍 World Kitchen
    Log in Sign up
    Home / Appetizer / Api con Pastel

    Api con Pastel

    The quintessential La Paz breakfast: a steaming mug of thick, spiced purple-corn api with a golden, crisp pastel fritter for dunking.

    ⏱ 15 minPrep time
    🔥 45 minCook time
    🍽 6Servings
    🏷 AppetizerCategory
    ☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet

    Api con pastel is the pre-dawn ritual of La Paz, when street vendors set up their steaming cauldrons of purple corn drink before the first buses run. The api is sweet, thick, and fragrant with cinnamon and cloves, while the pastel — a simple fried dough — is its perfect dunking companion.

    Purple Gold and Fried Dough

    Purple corn flour gives api its striking color and a silky, porridge-like body, sweetened with sugar and perfumed with cinnamon, cloves, and a hint of lemon. The pastel is a humble dough fried until puffed and golden — crisp outside, tender within — made for soaking up every last drop.

    Bolivian recipes →

    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Whisk the purple corn flour into the cold water in a large pot, making sure there are no lumps, then add the cinnamon, cloves, and lemon peel.
    2. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring almost constantly, and cook for 30 to 35 minutes until thick and glossy; stir in the sugar until dissolved and keep warm.
    3. Meanwhile, make the pastel dough: mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and 2 tablespoons of sugar, then add the egg and warm milk and knead into a soft dough; rest for 10 minutes.
    4. Roll the dough thin, cut into triangles, and fry in hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes per side until puffed and golden; drain on paper towels.
    5. Serve the api steaming hot in mugs with the warm pastel on the side for dunking.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Stir the api almost constantly — purple corn flour loves to clump and scorch. Api keeps 2 days refrigerated; reheat gently with a splash of water. The pastel is best fresh.

    Rate this recipe

    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    ☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
    Sign in to rate this recipe.

    Recipe details

    Prep15 min
    Cook45 min
    Servings6
    CategoryAppetizer
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

    Keep browsingYou might also like

    View all recipes →