Cameroonian Pap Recipe: A Delicious and Comforting Breakfast Dish
Cameroonian Pap (Corn porridge)
Are you looking for a warm and comforting breakfast option? Look no further than Cameroonian Pap, a delicious corn porridge that is easy to make and packed with flavour, typically eaten in Cameroon and Nigeria in the West of Africa.
Cameroonian pap is a popular dish for many reasons. These include its ease of preparation, versatility, affordability, and cultural significance. Whether you are looking for a quick and easy meal, or a dish that is rich in cultural heritage, Cameroonian pap is a great option. So, why not give it a try and see for yourself why it is such a popular dish in Cameroon and beyond.
With its smooth and creamy texture, this staple dish is a favourite among Cameroonians and is sure to become a staple in your household (it’s kid friendly too!). In this blog post, I'll be sharing with you a simple and authentic recipe for making Cameroonian Pap, so you can enjoy the taste of Cameroon in your own home. Not only is Pap, also known as Le Bouillie, Akamu or Ogi, a delicious breakfast, it can also be eaten as a dessert. It’s a versatile dish that I’m sure will become one of your favourites too.
Another reason I love this recipe is because it is so easy for anyone to make it vegan. All you have to do is make sure that you use a plant-based milk such as oat, almond, soy, hemp, rice, coconut, hazelnut, cashew or one of the many other milks available on the market. The choices nowadays are endless and you can experiment using different milks to see how the taste alternates. When making this dish, you should also make sure that your sugar is vegan. Sometimes, sugar is non-vegan because they filter it using bone char - that is, charred and powdered animal bone. BUT luckily that really only applies in the US. In the UK, most regular sugar brands are vegan.
Not only is this delicious meal vegan, this is one of my quickest recipes, and it’s another reason for the popularity of Cameroonian pap. It is very easy to prepare and the ingredients are simple and widely available, plus the cooking method is straightforward. These characteristics make it the perfect dish to serve up if you’re in a rush or just need something that’s not too difficult to prepare. It’s great if you don’t have much time in the morning, yet you want to take a moment to enjoy some delicious Cameroonian food in your morning routine. It’ll take you roughly 5 minutes to prep, and then an additional 5 minutes to cook. So with a total time of 10 minutes, it’s something anyone can fit into their routine.
The ingredients used to make Cameroonian pap are also very affordable, making it a popular choice for families on a budget. Maize or cornmeal is a staple food in many countries, and it is readily available and inexpensive. This, combined with the low cost of the other ingredients, makes Cameroonian pap a cost-effective option for people looking to feed their families without breaking the bank.
If you’ve tried any Cameroonian recipes before such as Puff Puff or Jollof Rice then you’ll know that West African food is so comforting and, for me, it really feels like home. As I’m writing this, it’s January and I’m in the UK, so it’s certainly cold. Pap can be a real winter warmer and make the mornings a little brighter. Because there’s so many things you can top it with or add to the flavour, it can easily become a daily staple breakfast in your household and you can just mix up the flavours each day.
Making Cameroonian Pap is simple and straightforward, requiring only a few basic ingredients. It’s definitely a dish that anyone can make, which makes it beginner friendly or a fun recipe to try with your partner or you could even get your children involved too.
For this Cameroonian Pap recipe you will need; white maize meal, plant based milk, water, salt, and sugar, and you can add any other ingredients of your choice, such as spices or fruits, to give the dish an extra flavour boost. One of my favourite ways to add some extra flavours to Pap is to top it with a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar, or even some toasted crushed pistachio nuts add some extra texture and taste.
Typically, pap is made from fresh or dried corn that is soaked for a number of days to ferment. This process gives the corn a unique flavour and texture that is hard to find in other dishes. It’s often described as having a tangy taste which is rather distinctive. After the corn has fermented, it is then ground and passed through a sieve to separate the chaff from the starch. This process ensures that the final product is smooth and creamy, making it perfect for enjoying as a warm and comforting breakfast.
However, this recipe skips this stage as you can find pre-ground corn flour in many places now, which can make the whole process much easier as you don’t need to go through the soaking and fermenting process I mentioned above.
Although, when shopping for your ingredients, you don’t want to buy normal cornflour, because we don’t want the refined starchy part of the corn. It’s the ‘chaff’ part that we want to be using for this recipe. What you’ll be looking for is usually called ‘Pan Pre-Cooked White Maize Meal’ in the supermarkets. You can buy either the white or yellow. If you can’t find it in your local supermarket, it’s also worth noting that you can find Pan Pre-Cooked White Maize Meal on World food shop so you can quickly and easily order it to your home.
You should also be aware that the slightly tangy taste that you’d traditionally get from Pap comes from the fermentation process, so you wouldn’t get that in this recipe but it still tastes delightful.
In conclusion, Cameroonian pap is a delicious and versatile dish that has been enjoyed for generations. Its combination of ingredients and cooking methods make it a unique and satisfying meal. Whether you prefer it as a main dish, side dish or dessert, there's no denying the impact it has on the cuisine of Cameroon. So, if you're looking to add a new twist to your meals, give Cameroonian pap a try. You won't regret it!
I really hope you’ll enjoy giving this recipe a try, and as always I absolutely love to see your pictures once you’ve made it. As always, I would be thrilled to see your finished product. Please share your pictures with us on social media by tagging @gwafuvegan and we'll share them on our pages. It would also be great to let me know what you thought of the taste and how you decided to personalise your Pap.
You can find the recipe for Cameroonian Pap below:
Serves 1
Vegan | Gluten free
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
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Ingredients:
Stage 1
90g Pan Pre-Cooked White Maize Meal (white or yellow)
2 0g caster sugar (or any sugar of your choice)
200g boiling water
Stage 2
200g plant based milk
Toppings (optional)
- Pinch of cinnamon dusted on top
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Toasted crushed pistachio nuts (or any nut of your choosing)
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Method
1. Bring the water to boil
2. Whilst the water boils, in a bowl mix your Pan Pre-Cooked White Maize Meal and sugar together until combined.
3. Add the boiling water in stages to the dried mix in stages, using a whisk, whisk until well combined and lump free.
4. Next add your plant based milk to the mix in stages and whisk well until well combined.
5. Place mixture in the microwave for 1 minute, ensuring to stir it half way to prevent lumps from forming.
6. Top with your desired toppings and serve hot.
Enjoy!
About gwafuvegan
gwafuvegan specialises in cooking and delivering affordable vegan West African food. We ensure to only use high-quality, sustainable produce that is locally sourced. Our number one aim is to spread our love of vegan food and our passion and love of West African food. By doing this we showcase new and exciting flavours to our ever-growing diverse community. Read more about me here.