Pap a traditional porridge made from mielie-meal (ground maize or other grain), is a staple food of the Bantu inhabitants of South Africa(the Dutch word "pap" simply means "porridge" or "gruel"). Many traditional South African dishes include pap, such as smooth maize meal porridge (also called slap pap), and crumbly "phutu" (pronounced "poo-too") pap. Such dishes are enjoyed primarily by the indigenous black population rather than those of European or Asian descent. A variety of savouries are used to accompany pap, made from green vegetables, and flavoured with chilli. Since mielie-meal is inexpensive, poorer people can afford to combine it with vegetables and be sure of one good meal a day. It can be served hot or, after it has cooled, it can be fried, giving it a different texture. Phutu porridge is sometimes enjoyed with Chakalaka as a side dish with braais. Porridge & Milk For the British TV comedy, see Porridge (TV) Porridge (also known in American English as hot cereal or mush), is a simple dish made by boiling oats (normally crushed oats, occasionally oatmeal) or another meal in water, milk or both. ... In South Africa and other parts of Africa, a staple diet made from either stamped or ground maize, corn (mielie or mealie), coarse cassava powder, millet or sorghum flour. ... Binomial name Zea mays L. Maize (Zea mays ssp. ... Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu (dull yellow) vs. ... Chakalaka is a hot, spicy African vegetable relish traditionally served with bread, pap, samp, stews or curries. ... The braai (abbreviation of braaivleis, Afrikaans roasted meat) started out as a major social tradition amongst the Afrikaner people of Southern Africa, though the tradition has since been taken up by South Africans of all ethnic backgrounds. ...

Pap is also called Ugali in eastern and southern Africa; Sadza in Zimbabwe; and Banku in West Africa. A similar dish is polenta, from northern Italy. Ugali is a staple starch component of many African meals, especially in East Africa. ... Sadza is the Shona language name for a cooked pulverized grain meal that is the staple food in Zimbabwe. ... Polenta is a cornmeal mush popular in Italian, Savoy, Swiss, Austrian, Croatian, Slovenian, Serbian, Corsican, Argentinean, and Brazilian cuisine. ...

Popular dishes made with pap are Isidudu and Umngqusho. Isidudu is a pap dish made to simmer with pumpkin, curried cabbage and liver. ... Umngqusho is a Bantu dish with several variants: Made of stamp mealies (Mielie-meal) with sugar beans, butter, onions, potatoes, chillies and lemons, made to simmer. ...