Flavourful Eats Quarantine Special 7 (episode 102) - Paptert May 2020

Recipe for Paptert – interpretation from Afrikaans to English porridge Tart – a South African tart filled with veggies, and cheese. Delicious side-dish to a braai/BBQ or an appetizer or main meal Ingredients Porridge (stiff) 5 cups water water 2 1/2 cups (20 oz) grits ( mealie meal) 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt 1 tablespoon / knob of butter Filling: 2 onions, finely chopped oil 2 cloves of garlic 1 can chopped tomato 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon sugar ( optional). Sweet corn is sweet 1 tin of sweet corn kernels (drained) or 1 1/3 cup frozen corn 1/2 pack (4 oz) brown mushrooms, chopped 1 red pepper, chopped Fresh herbs, such as marjoram, thyme, oregano, parsley Salt and black pepper to taste Chillies chopped (optional) 2 1/2 cups of grated cheese 3/4 cup to 1 cup fresh whip cream Method To make the porridge (“stiff”), bring the water and salt to the boil. Add some cold water to mealie meal (grits) and then add mealie meal (grits ) into water slowly while mixing well. Cover with the lid, continue striating to avoid it getting lumpy, once boil, cover lid and cook on low but stir from time to time. Must not get lumpy. The consistency of this “stiff pap” should be stiff, but still spreadable, so you can add either boiling water or maize until the consistency is correct. Simmer for 20 minutes until done. Stir in the butter. Fry onion in oil. Add garlic and butter. Add red pepper, tomato, salt and black pepper, and let it simmer until soft. Add mushrooms and allow to soften. Add corn. The sauce needs to be juicy. Add herbs to taste, but take care so it doesn’t dominate. Use a wooden spoon or silicon spatula to smooth half of the warm “pap” into a greased, medium sized ovenproof dish. Add half of the filling on top of the pap and sprinkle 1 cup of the grated cheese over. Spread the rest of the porridge, followed by the remainder of the filling and then the cheese. Pour cream over and bake for about an hour at moderate oven 350*F or 180 C until the tart is bubbling gently, and the cheese has browned. Serve warm. www.actontv.org