Sidvudvu (Swazi Pumpkin and Maize Meal Porridge)
In short: Pumpkin cooked until soft and stirred with maize meal into a golden, lightly sweet porridge for breakfast or as a side. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 160 kcal
Sidvudvu is a porridge of pumpkin cooked with maize meal, eaten in Eswatini as a warm, filling breakfast or a side dish. The pumpkin melts into the porridge and gives it a natural sweetness and a golden color. It can be served plain, with butter or sugar for a sweet bowl, or beside meat and vegetables for a savory meal. Butternut squash is an easy substitute if you cannot find pumpkin.
Instructions
- Put the pumpkin, 280 ml (1 cup plus 2 tbsp) of the water and the salt in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, until very soft.
- Mash the pumpkin directly in the pot with a potato masher, keeping the cooking liquid. It should be a rough puree.
- Whisk the maize meal with the remaining 120 ml (1/2 cup) cold water in a small bowl until smooth.
- Turn the heat to low and stir the maize meal mixture into the pumpkin. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until the porridge is thick and no longer tastes of raw meal.
- Add a splash of water if the porridge becomes too stiff. Taste and adjust the salt.
- Serve hot in bowls, plain or topped with a little butter, sugar or milk.
Tips
- Dry-fleshed pumpkin, such as a kabocha or Hubbard squash, gives the thickest porridge. Watery pumpkins may need an extra 5 minutes of cooking.
- For a richer, nutty porridge, stir in a spoonful of unsweetened peanut butter at the end.
Questions and answers
Is sidvudvu sweet or savory?
It is lightly sweet from the pumpkin. Add sugar and butter for a sweet breakfast, or leave it plain and serve it beside meat or greens.
Can I use canned pumpkin?
Yes. Use 400 g (14 oz) unsweetened pumpkin puree and 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) water, and skip the first mashing step.
Can I make sidvudvu ahead?
Yes, it keeps for 3 days in the fridge. It sets firm when cold, so reheat it with a splash of water or milk, stirring until smooth.
How long does it take to make Sidvudvu (Swazi Pumpkin and Maize Meal Porridge)?
About 50 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sidvudvu (Swazi Pumpkin and Maize Meal Porridge)?
About 160 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 34 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 160 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 34 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 290 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
