Nhopi (Zimbabwean Pumpkin and Maize Porridge)
In short: Mashed pumpkin cooked with white maize meal and peanut butter into a thick, golden porridge, a Zimbabwean comfort food served warm. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 225 kcal
Nhopi is a golden, creamy porridge from Zimbabwe, made by cooking pumpkin until it collapses, then stirring in maize meal and a spoonful of peanut butter. It is soft and mild, with a gentle natural sweetness, and it needs only one pot and a handful of ingredients. Eat it warm for breakfast or as a side next to a savory stew. Children usually love it.
Instructions
- Put the pumpkin and 500 ml (2 cups) of water in a medium heavy pot. Bring to a boil, cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the pumpkin is very soft.
- Mash the pumpkin in the pot with a potato masher or fork, right in its cooking liquid, until smooth.
- Whisk the maize meal with the cold water to a smooth paste. Stir it into the pumpkin along with the salt.
- Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, until it begins to thicken. Stir in the peanut butter and sugar.
- Lower the heat, cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until the porridge is thick and glossy and no longer tastes of raw meal. Stir in hot water a spoonful at a time if it gets too stiff.
- Spoon the nhopi into bowls and serve warm, on its own or alongside a savory stew.
Tips
- Butternut squash is a good stand-in for African pumpkin. Cook it until it falls apart for the smoothest nhopi.
- Use a heavy pot and stir constantly when you add the maize paste to prevent scorching. The porridge thickens as it cools, so loosen it with hot water when reheating.
Questions and answers
Is nhopi sweet or savory?
It is mildly sweet from the pumpkin, with a little sugar and salt for balance. Leave out the sugar to serve it as a savory side.
What do you eat with nhopi?
Eat it plain for breakfast, or serve it as a side next to a stew or greens in peanut butter.
Can I make nhopi without peanut butter?
Yes. It will be lighter and plainer, because the peanut butter adds richness and a nutty taste. Leave it out entirely if anyone has a peanut allergy.
How long does it take to make Nhopi (Zimbabwean Pumpkin and Maize Porridge)?
About 55 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Nhopi (Zimbabwean Pumpkin and Maize Porridge)?
About 225 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 42 g of carbohydrates and 4 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 225 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 42 g |
| Fat | 4 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
