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Learn how to make this easy to follow mielie pap recipe made with minimal preparation time!
No Namibian dining table is complete without mielie pap or mahangu 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.
It’s popular in other African countries as well and known under different names. It vegan, dairy free, gluten free and easy and quick to make.
What you’ll need to make Oshifima shepungu
- 500 ml (about 17 fl.oz/ 2 cups water, room temperature
- about 95 g / 3.35 oz/ about 2/3 cup – 1 tablespoon fine maize meal (cornmeal)
- a pinch of salt, to taste
You’ll also need
- pot
- whisk and or wooden spoon
How to cook stiff pap
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 while hot.
Hint: 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 and whisk too. Because once the porridge has hardened, it’s very hard to clean off.
What to serve with pap
Mielie pap tastes amazing with Chakalaka, beef stew, spinach stew, chicken stew, Namibian – style grilled beef, the list goes on. Sometimes I just enjoy it with Oshikandela (Namibian style soured milk).
FAQ – What can I use instead of maize meal?
Traditionally mielie pap is made with maize meal, but I have also made it with semolina flour and it still turned out delicious.
How to Make Mielie Pap
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.
Did you make this mielie pap recipe? I’d love to hear from you! Simply write a comment and add rating to it.
Barb Clough
Tuesday 7th of March 2023
Came out great! Used white cornmeal that we have in the U.S.
Ben
Thursday 12th of January 2023
I like your mieliepap
Ester
Saturday 14th of January 2023
Great to hear, Ben!
Ben
Thursday 12th of January 2023
I please want the recipe
Ben
Thursday 12th of January 2023
I ate lots of mieliepap in Namibia and want the recipe.
Ross Michel
Thursday 25th of August 2022
Good instructions from a fellow Namibian who lives in Portugal. I miss that country