I am submitting this recipe for Mielie Pap to Meeta’s Monthly Mingle, which is being hosted this month by Zizi’s Adventures
Today’s inspirational recipe from Lavender and Lime ♥ Mielie Pap ♥ #LavenderAndLime Share on X
In South Africa, street food is very much a regional thing. For instance, in Natal the traditional street food is bunny chow. This is curry served in half a loaf of white bread that has been hollowed out. In the Western Cape, samosas are sold on street corners. But, no matter where you go in South Africa you will always find a wors roll being sold. A boerrie roll as they are called, can be found at sports games, for sale outside supermarkets and most often at a braai. Boerewors translates literally to farmers sausage, and comes in a variety of flavours and thicknesses. I prefer mine heavy on coriander and thin. In my mind, nothing says welcome to Newlands more than the smell of wors rolls cooking on a skottel (BBQ) waiting for the numerous patrons to partake of one before entering the stadium to watch the rugby. I wanted to get a photograph of this for the blog, but sadly last week when we went to the game, it was raining, and the street vendors were nowhere to be found. Another South African staple is pap. This is maize meal which has been slowly cooked and comes either smooth, as I have it here or crumbly, which is known as krimmel pap. Pap is porridge but this is not a breakfast food in my opinion. When I think of pap I remember suppers shared with my maid when my parents had gone out for the night. I cannot have wors or pap without a tomato and onion relish. This to me is the street food of my country – it is what symbolizes South Africa.
What is the street food from where you live?

Mielie Pap
Ingredients
- 125 mls maize meal
- 375 mls water, divided
- 1 pinch salt
Method
- In a sauce pan mix the maize meal with 125mls water and the salt until smooth
- Add the rest of the water and bring to the boil
- Reduce the heat to the lowest setting on your stove, cover and simmer for 1 hour
- Remove the lid and mix
Notes
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
What I blogged:
- one year ago – taste of Johannesburg
- two years ago – onion and tomato tart
I remember having this served to me by friends who lived just outside Kruger Park. Reading this post took me straight back to that very fond memory, cooked outside on the braai with plenty of sundowners!
I’m so glad I can evoke a happy memory 🙂
I’ve been converted to the delights of Boerworst here in Dubai as we can get them in our local supermarket (due to the demand of a lot of South African expats). I’ll call them wors from now on!
your supermarket must be full of our local items 🙂
You remind me of all the wonderful potato patties or ‘chaat’ in India – memorise to recreate at home my friend 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I shall have to try making those 🙂
I can’t remember the last time I ate boerwors, Tandy. It must have been in the 1970’s. Pap is something I’ve never tasted. 🙂
wow AD! that’s a long time to not eat wors! its such a staple at braais 🙂
Pete and I often enjoy this for a weekend meal. We light a fire just for boerie for 2.
🙂 Mandy
we do the same!
I learned something new! I must make it to see what it tastes like.
We don’t have a lot of street food. We have hamburgers, hot dogs & kebabs.
I will hopefully get to try your street food one day 🙂
I’ve never heard of this dish before but it sounds really tasty!
the relish is my favourite part 🙂
I’m almost embarrassed to say–hotdogs. Silly city–however THIS looks amazing! I’d order this at any sit down place in a second!
I love street vendor hotdogs 🙂
That looks like tasty street food!
thank you 🙂
Oh we finally got to try Bunny Chow in Durban! We were so intrigued by the concept and it was nice-I preferred the filling to the bread 🙂
I think I would just eat the filling 🙂
I have never had one of these, Tandy….I do love the idea of curry in hollowed-out bread, though!
The bunny chow is a real experience Kate 🙂
I love street food, and when it’ sgood it’s the best! I think street food is my favourite way of exploring a new country. A great post Tandy!
I love the street food concept in the Far East 🙂
Lekker!
indeed!
Love this post Tandy. Street food from around the world is my all time favourite kind of food.
I am so looking forward to the round up 🙂
Love finding new foods and pap is one I haven’t tried before. Looks wonderful and simple enough to make!
It is simple and I hope you enjoy it 🙂
While the consistency is good, the recipe only produced a very tiny amount of cooked pap. It was barely enough for one person.
I suppose we all have different appetites? But I am glad the consistency was good and that you found maize meal in Australia 🙂