African salad with a twist ( 6 peoples )

Ingrédients :

• 2¼ cups (560 ml) water
• ½ tsp (2,5 ml) salt
• 3 cups (750 ml) coarse mealie meal

Chakalaka sauce :

• 2 tsp (10 ml) sunflower oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cm piece fresh ginger, chopped
• 1 green pepper, seeds removed and chopped
• 1 tsp (5 ml) curry powder
• 4 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tsp (10 ml) sugar
• lemon juice and black pepper to taste
• OR
• 2 cups (500 ml) low-fat maas or buttermilk

Instructions :

1. Place water and salt in a large pot and bring to the boil. Pour mealie meal into the water, but don’t stir yet.
2. Simmer for 2 minutes, then stir well with a wooden spoon or fork. Reduce the heat.
3. Cover with a lid and steam over a low heat for 30-40 minutes or until cooked. Stir occasionally to prevent it from burning.
4. Chakalaka: If you enjoy mealie pap with a sauce, prepare this while the pap cooks.
5. Heat oil in a pot and fry onion, ginger and green pepper until soft. Add curry powder, tomatoes and sugar and simmer on a low heat for 20 minutes. Season with lemon juice and pepper.
6. Serve pap warm or at room temperature with the chakalaka sauce or maas as a side dish.

Cook's notes :

Umfino (pap withspinach): Place 1chopped onion or 1 bunch of spring onions, chopped with 1 bunch of spinach and ½ a cabbage, shredded in a large pot. Add some water and simmer for a few minutes. Then add the mealie meal with the 2¼ cups water and cook as above.