How To Make Mielie Pap

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.

Did you make this mielie pap recipe? I’d love to hear from you! Simply write a comment and add rating to it.