In South Africa, Corn or Maize is known as “mealies.” For many people they are part of their daily diet where they are ground to make Mielie Meal and then made into dishes like ‘Sadza’. Normally the mealies are left on the stalks in the field until the crop has dried out, before harvesting. However, to make mealie bread, the cobs are harvested when still young and green when the kernels are still moist. There are a number of recipes to make bread from Mealies that are not only delicious but really easy to make. I have gathered together four recipes, the first one uses corn off the cob, but the others use tinned sweetcorn.
Traditional Steamed Green Mealie Bread
To make this bread you need to use a slightly green mealie (at the hard dough stage). You will know if it is right, if you take a kernel and press it and some liquid should come out, but most of the starchy kernel should remain between fingers.
Ingredients:
750 ml Fresh green mealies, cut off the cob
75 ml flour
25 ml sugar
10 ml baking powder or sachet yeast
5 ml salt
30 ml butter
Method:
Cut the kernels off cob and then rub the cob with the back of a knife to remove remaining portions of kernels.
Mash/mince these green mealies.
Mix together all the ingredients.
Moisten a cotton cloth and sprinkle with a light coat of flour and then put in a colander.
Pour mixture into cloth and bind tightly, but allow space for bread to rise.
If using yeast, use buttered tins and allow mixture to stand till bubbling and started rising. Cover tightly and steam for 2 – 2.5 hours.
Serve hot from the pan with butter – and a dusting of pepper
 |
| Cheesy Mealie Bread |
Cheesy Mealie Bread
Ingredients:
480 g cake flour
20ml baking powder
pinch of salt
50 ml sugar
30 ml cooking oil
2 eggs, beaten
200 ml milk
1 x 410g can cream style sweetcorn or fresh baked corn
100 g strong cheese , grated
a little grated onion
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180C.
Mix the flour, salt and sugar in a bowl
Beat together with oil, eggs and milk and add to the flour mixture
Add the rest of the ingredients, mix thoroughly and place in well-greased circular pot
Sprinkle a little cheese, onion and parsley on the top
Bake for about an hour (this may vary depending on your oven)
Sour Cream Mealie Bread
This is a sumptuous mealie bread that’s great for a special occasion. Make it basic or sizzling with hot chilli and serve with lashings of butter. Instead of frozen or tinned whole kernels, you could use fresh green mealies, cut from the cob if they are available. Yum yum yum!
Ingredients:
250ml mealie meal, corn meal or polenta
250ml cake flour
5ml baking powder
2.5ml bicarbonate of soda
5ml salt
15ml sugar
125ml cream style sweetcorn
125ml frozen sweetcorn, or tinned whole kernel sweetcorn, drained
125ml sour cream
200ml milk
2 eggs
30ml vegetable oil
1 small red chilli, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
30ml extra mealie meal
Oil to coat the pan
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180C
Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix together the cream style sweetcorn, frozen sweetcorn, sour cream, milk, eggs and vegetable oil. Add this liquid mixture to the dry ingredients along with the chopped chilli (optional). Mix gently just until the ingredients are all moistened.
Oil an 8 inch loose base cake tin and coat with 30ml mealie meal. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the pan comes out clean.
Cool slightly in the pan before transferring to a serving plate and cutting into wedges.
Lay-Z Mealie Bread
This is one of my favourite South African recipes and the best bit is that it is so easy.
Ingredients:
2 cups basic bread ready-mix
1 cup creamed corn (Usually found tinned)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup whole milk
2 ounces butter, melted
Method: Place the biscuit mix, creamed corn, and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg and milk, and stir just until combined. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9″ baking pan. Place the mealie mixture into the pan, and coat with the melted butter. Bake for 20 minutes. Easypeasy!
