Now that you can blow a Vuvuzela, the next step is learning how to properly make Putu pap. Putu pap, also known as “Putu Porridge” and “Krummelpap” looks good and tastes great, but is sometimes difficult to make if you did not grow up in the Freestate. Here is the answer to the critical question: How do you make Putu Pap?
Ingredients
- 2 cups of water
- 3 cups of maize meal
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- some more water
Method
- Bring the 2 cups of water to boil in a cast iron pot.
- Add the salt to the water.
- Throw the 3 cups of maize meal in the water, aiming for the middle. You should now see a tower of maize meal resembling a mine dump, its base in the water and top protruding. Do not touch it.
- Put the lid on the pot, and remove from the fire. Leave the pot with the gentle heat of some coals for 20 minutes, until all the water was absorbed into, or steamed into, the maize meal tower.
- Remove the lid. Take a big fork, the one you use for holing a leg of lamb whilst carving it, and stir the porridge, until it looks like Putu pap.
- Add some more water (about half a cup, depending on how much heat you had in the first 20 minutes, and how moist you want the end product). All water added should be instantly absorbed by the porridge. Stir again.
- Replace the lid, and let steam for another 20 minutes on the gentle heat of coals. Resist the temptation to open the lid all the time, but opening once or twice to stir it again and see that its not burning is acceptable.
Other comments
- If the bottom of the porridge burns a crust in the pot, don’t stress, this is quite normal and does not influence the taste negatively. The crust can easily be removed afterwards.
- This recipe is foolproof and works as well almost as well on a stove.
- A nr.1 or nr.2 pot works best for this amount or maize meal, but a bigger pot will also suffice.
- If you want more porridge, the recipe can be scaled, keeping the same ratios.
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