Pap en Sous — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

Creamy stiff maize porridge served with a rich, slow-simmered tomato and onion sauce — South Africa's most beloved comfort food and daily staple.

Ingredients

1 Bring salted water to a boil. Slowly whisk in maize meal in a steady stream to prevent lumps.
2 Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes with a strong wooden spoon.
3 Continue cooking until the pap is thick, pulls away from the sides of the pot, and holds its shape.
4 For the sauce: heat oil and sauté onions until caramelized, about 10 minutes.
5 Add tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer 15 minutes until thick and rich.
6 Serve a mound of pap with the tomato sauce ladled over the top.

Did You Know?

South Africans consume over 4 million tonnes of maize annually, and pap accounts for the majority of maize consumption in the country.