Welcome my dear readers. Today, I am sharing with you a popular African food recipe, Stiff Pap. Stiff Pap, also known as "Phutu Pap" or "Nshima" in some African countries, is a staple food made from maize flour. It is a quick and easy-to-make food that can be served with various savory stews, relishes or curries. In this article, I will be taking you through how to make stiff pap from start to finish.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of maize meal
- 2 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
- Boil the water in a pot.
- While the water is boiling, mix the maize meal and salt in a separate large mixing bowl.
- Once the water boils, slowly add the maize meal mixture while simultaneously stirring with a wooden spoon.
- Stir the mixture together until it forms a dough-like consistency that is free of lumps.
- Cover the pot and allow the dough to cook on low heat for 5-7 minutes.
- After 5-7 minutes, use a wooden spoon to scrape and break up any large lumps and to stir the mixture in a circular motion.
- Cover the pot and allow the mixture to cook on low heat for another 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pap becomes "stiff"
- Turn off the heat and allow the pap to cool for a few minutes before serving
Serving:
Stiff pap is best served hot with a variety of side dishes such as relish or stew. It is often eaten with meat, chicken or vegetable stews such as beef or chicken stew, oxtail or lamb curry, or tomato-based relishes. Some people also enjoy stiff pap as a breakfast or lunch meal, served with condensed milk or sugar.
Tips:
- When adding the maize meal mixture to the boiling water, it is important to do it slowly to avoid any lumps in the mixture.
- While stirring, make sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the pot to prevent the pap from sticking.
- If the pap becomes too thick or dry, add a little bit of hot water and stir until you achieve the desired consistency.
- Leftover stiff pap can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
There you have it - a quick and easy recipe for making stiff pap. It's a popular staple food in many African countries and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Now that you know how to make stiff pap, why not try it out and see how it tastes for yourself?
