Mealie Bread

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!