Pap (South African Maize Meal Porridge)
In short: Maize meal porridge cooked stiff enough to shape and eat by hand, the everyday South African staple served with stews, relish and grilled meat. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 225 kcal
Pap is the staple of South African tables, a maize meal porridge cooked to whatever thickness the meal calls for. Stiff pap is shaped into balls and used to scoop up stew, relish and grilled meat, while softer versions are eaten for breakfast. It is eaten across the country and across communities, with names like uphuthu and putu for the crumbly kind. Steady stirring keeps it free of lumps.
Instructions
- Bring the 750 ml of water and the salt to a boil in a heavy saucepan.
- Mix 100 g (3/4 cup) of the maize meal with the cold water in a bowl until smooth. Whisk it into the boiling water and cook for 3 minutes, whisking, until it looks like a thin porridge.
- Add the remaining 150 g (1 1/4 cups) of maize meal in a steady stream, stirring hard with a wooden spoon. It will thicken and turn stiff almost at once.
- Lower the heat to the lowest setting, cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until there is no raw floury taste and the pap pulls away from the sides.
- Stir in the butter if using. Serve hot, scooped into balls or slices, with stew, chakalaka or grilled meat.
Tips
- For crumbly pap, use 600 ml (2 1/2 cups) of water in total and fluff the cooked pap with a fork. For soft porridge, use 1.5 liters (6 cups) of water in total.
- If lumps form, press them against the side of the pot with the back of a spoon, or give the pap a quick, firm whisk.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between stiff, crumbly and soft pap?
They differ only in the amount of water. Stiff pap holds a shape, crumbly pap is fluffed with a fork, and soft pap is a loose porridge, often eaten at breakfast.
What is pap served with?
Braaied meat, boerewors, stews, chakalaka and tomato and onion relish are all common partners. Soft pap is often eaten with a little sugar.
Can I reheat leftover pap?
Yes. Slice cold stiff pap and fry it in a little oil until crisp, or warm it in a pot with a splash of water, stirring until smooth.
How long does it take to make Pap (South African Maize Meal Porridge)?
About 35 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pap (South African Maize Meal Porridge)?
About 225 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 48 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 225 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 48 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 290 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
