Motoho (Basotho Fermented Sorghum Porridge)
In short: Sorghum meal fermented for a day or two, then boiled into a sour, glossy porridge eaten warm for breakfast or chilled with sugar. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 36 h
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 185 kcal
Motoho is a sour sorghum porridge from Lesotho. Sorghum meal is mixed with water and a spoonful of starter, left to ferment for a day or two until it smells pleasantly tangy, then boiled and stirred until thick and glossy. It is eaten warm for breakfast, or chilled with sugar as a snack or dessert. The starter, called tomoso, is usually a little leftover fermented porridge, and keeping one going makes the next batch easier.
Instructions
- Stir the sorghum meal, lukewarm water and starter together in a large glass or ceramic bowl until smooth. Cover with a clean cloth.
- Leave at room temperature (25 to 30°C / 77 to 86°F) for 24 to 48 hours, until the mixture is bubbly and smells pleasantly sour, like yogurt.
- Bring the 500 ml (2 cups) water and the salt to a boil in a heavy pot.
- Stir the fermented mixture well, since it settles. Pour it into the boiling water in a slow stream, whisking constantly.
- Turn the heat to low and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until thick and glossy and the raw taste has gone.
- Serve warm with sugar and milk for breakfast, or chill for 2 hours and eat cold as a snack or dessert.
Tips
- Save 2 tbsp of the fermented mixture before cooking and refrigerate it as starter for the next batch. It keeps for a week.
- Use glass, ceramic or food-grade plastic for fermenting, not aluminum. If you see mold, pink streaks or smell something rotten rather than sour, throw the batch away.
Questions and answers
What does motoho taste like?
Mildly sour and earthy, a little like thin sourdough porridge. Sugar softens the sourness, and the texture is smooth and slightly sticky.
Can I use maize meal instead of sorghum?
Yes. Fine maize meal works with the same method, though the porridge will be lighter in color and milder in flavor.
How long does motoho keep?
Cooked motoho keeps for 4 days in the fridge and thickens as it cools. Thin it with a splash of water or milk when reheating.
How long does it take to make Motoho (Basotho Fermented Sorghum Porridge)?
About 35 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Motoho (Basotho Fermented Sorghum Porridge)?
About 185 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 38 g of carbohydrates and 2 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 185 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 38 g |
| Fat | 2 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 145 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
