How to Make Mielie Pap
No Namibian dining table is complete without mielie pap. Mielie pap, in short pap, also known as Oshifima, in my native Oshiwambo language, is simply stiff porridge made with fine maize meal (cornmeal), water and a pinch of salt.
Servings: 4 Servings
Equipment
- pot
- Wooden spoon
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 500 ml (about 17 fl.oz/ 2 cups) cold tap water
- 95 g (3.35 oz/ about 2/3 cup - 1 tablespoon ) fine maize meal (cornmeal)
- a pinch of salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat the pot with water over medium heat until lukewarm. Add about half of maize meal and a pinch of salt and stir well.
- Keep stirring with a whisk or a wooden spoon until the maize meal mixture begins to boil and bubble. After let cook for about 2 minutes. If the maize meal mixture splatters everywhere while cooking, simply cover the pot.
- Next slowly add the remaining maize meal with the left hand while stirring with the right hand. Stir very fast with power, while holding the handle of the pot with one hand and the other hand is busy stirring (SEE VIDEO) until you have a smooth consistency.
- Reduce the heat and let cook for about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir very well once more. Lift up the pot and flip Oshifima onto the plate. Serve the pap while hot.
Video
Notes
- Traditionally mielie pap is made with maize meal, but I have also made it with semolina flour and it still turned out delicious.
- Immediately after cooking, before serving, fill the bottom of the pot with water to let soak and clean the sides of the pot. Clean the wooden spoon too. Because once the porridge has hardened, it's very hard to clean off.