Nsima (Malawian Maize Porridge)
In short: Malawi's everyday staple: white maize meal cooked into a thick, smooth porridge, shaped into a dome and eaten by hand with a savory relish. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 230 kcal
Nsima is the center of the Malawian table. White maize meal is cooked in water until stiff and smooth, then scooped into a dome and served beside a relish called ndiwo, such as fish, beans or greens. It is eaten for lunch and dinner by hand: you pinch off a piece, roll it in your palm, press a dip into it with your thumb and scoop up the relish.
Instructions
- Bring 500 ml (2 cups) of the water to a boil in a heavy pot. In a bowl, stir 75 g (3/4 cup) of the maize meal into the remaining 250 ml cold water until smooth.
- Pour the paste into the boiling water, whisking. Lower the heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often, until it becomes a thin porridge.
- Cover the pot and simmer on low for 10 minutes. This cooks out the raw taste of the meal. Stir twice during this time.
- Add the remaining maize meal one handful at a time, stirring hard with a sturdy wooden spoon. Press out any lumps against the side of the pot. The porridge will quickly thicken.
- Keep stirring and pressing for 3 to 4 minutes until the nsima is stiff, smooth and pulls away from the pot. Cover and cook on the lowest heat for 5 minutes.
- Stir again for 1 minute. Rinse a bowl with water, scoop in the nsima and turn the bowl to shape a dome, then tip it onto a plate. Serve hot, with a relish.
Tips
- A little extra boiling water stirred in at the end fixes nsima that has turned too stiff. If it is too soft, cover and cook on low for 5 more minutes.
- Whole-grain maize meal gives a darker, more rustic nsima with more fiber. Use the same method but cook the first stage for 15 minutes.
Questions and answers
How do you eat nsima?
Use your right hand. Pinch off a piece, roll it into a ball, press a hollow in it with your thumb and use it to scoop up relish. Wash your hands first.
Is nsima the same as ugali or pap?
They are close relatives, all made from maize meal and water. Nsima is usually cooked to a smooth, firm texture and is eaten with a relish such as fish, beans or greens.
Can I keep leftover nsima?
Wrap it and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Slice and steam it, or fry slices in a little oil until crisp.
How long does it take to make Nsima (Malawian Maize Porridge)?
About 40 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Nsima (Malawian Maize Porridge)?
About 230 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 48 g of carbohydrates and 2 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 230 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 48 g |
| Fat | 2 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 290 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
