5 from 21 votes
Sadza Recipe
Sadza Recipe details how to prepare a staple African maize porridge with simple ingredients: maize meal and water. The method involves creating a smooth maize paste, boiling it, and then stirring in additional hot water and maize meal to reach the desired thick porridge consistency. Stirring throughout prevents lumps and ensures a smooth texture. This porrige is mildly thick and smooth, often served as a base starch to accompany stews or vegetables.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings:
3
Calories:
211 kcal
Course:
Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine:
African
Ingredients
- 1 cup maize meal (also known as maize flour, mealie meal or cornmeal)
- 1½ cups water cold or room temperature
- 2 cups water hot
Instructions
- Add ½ cup maize meal to a bowl. Mix it with 1½ cups of cold / room temperature water, to form a smooth, runny paste.
- Transfer the contents from the bowl to a small pot and set it on the stove at high heat. Keep stirring until it starts boiling. Next, slowly add the hot water, stirring continuously to prevent the sadza from forming lumps.
- Keep stirring until it starts to bubble. Cautiously cover the pot, reduce the heat to a medium-low, and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes. The consistency should resemble porridge at this point. If it is too thin, simply make a little slurry in a small cup, comprising a few tablespoons of maize meal and hot water, similar to the first step above, and stir it in. If too thick then add some more hot water.
- Stir in the maize meal, a little at a time, making sure it is well mixed in, before adding some more. This helps prevent lumps. The sadza will continue thickening as it cooks.
- Continue stirring, for about 5 minutes. This is very important as it helps give the sadza a smooth texture. Cover, and allow it to cook on low for a further 15 minutes. Once this time is over, uncover the pot and stir again for 1-2 minutes.
- Once cooked, use your wooden spoon to gather the sadza into one mass. Use your wooden spoon to form it into round balls, on a plate. Shape as preferred, and serve it hot, with some beef stew, kapenta, or your favourite relish.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Using super refined or precooked maize meal shortens cooking time; adjust accordingly.
- Be cautious of spluttering during the boiling stage for safety.
- Adjust consistency with slurry of maize meal and hot water if porridge is too thin; add more hot water if too thick.
- Add maize meal gradually while stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
Nutrition Information
Calories
211kcal
(11%)
Carbohydrates
41g
(14%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
3g
(5%)
Saturated Fat
0.5g
(3%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Sodium
16mg
(1%)
Potassium
235mg
(5%)
Fiber
6g
(24%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Calcium
14mg
(1%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 3 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 211
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 211kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 41g | 14% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5g | 3% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 16mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 235mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Calcium | 14mg | 1% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.