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Mealie Bread (South African Sweetcorn Bread)

 Kernels of sweet corn stud this sweet and flavorful Mealie Bread, a South African sweetcorn bread that is sure to delight any cornbread fan. 

Kernels of sweet corn stud this sweet and flavorful Mealie Bread, a South African sweetcorn bread that is sure to delight any cornbread fan. | www.CuriousCuisiniere.comMealie bread is a traditional South African quick bread made from mealie, known in other parts of the world as maize, or corn.

Maize was first grown for food in indigenous Mexico, and it is thought that the Portuguese were the first to bring maize from the Americas to Africa.

It became quite popular in many parts of Africa where it was (and is) used to make a number of pudding, porridge, and bread dishes.

Steamed mealie bread

Mealie bread was traditionally made by steaming rather than baking.

A large pot of boiling water would have been put on the stove (or campfire) with a can, or something similar, inside to act as a platform for the bread pan.

Then, the loaf pan with the bread batter was placed into the boiling water so the water came about halfway up the sides of the pan.

The pot was then covered and the bread steamed.

Steaming is a gentle cooking process that cooks the corn slowly, creating a very tender consistency. The resulting bread is very moist, more like a cross between a thick, cooked corn pudding and a very dense quick bread.

This traditional, moist and dense mealie bread is still very popular today.

Bringing Lunch at Motswari Private Game Reserve | www.CuriousCuisiniere.com

The lunch spread (with mealie bread) being brought out at Motswari Private Game Reserve

But, while we were in South Africa, we were served mealie bread that was a bit more bread-y than pudding-y. It had a a dry crust from baking and a crumbly texture. This corn bread was more similar to the Southern US cornbread that we were familiar with.

With one difference that made this cornbread stand out as something definitely different from any cornbread we had ever tasted.

There were distinct kernels of corn in this corn bread. 

It is this baked, more bread-like version of mealie bread that we experienced while on safari that we used as the model for today’s mealie bread recipe.

African sweetcorn bread

This bread is definitely more of a sweetcorn bread than a traditional American cornbread. The emphasis is really on the sweetcorn, because it uses whole corn kernels in the batter.

The sweet corn kernels are partially ground, giving the bread a moist texture and a fun pop of flavor as you bite into the whole kernels.

There’s nothing like fresh sweet corn. And this sweetcorn bread really captures the essence of the sweet corn harvest in a delicious and comforting loaf!

Kernels of sweet corn stud this sweet and flavorful Mealie Bread, a South African sweetcorn bread that is sure to delight any cornbread fan. | www.CuriousCuisiniere.com

How to serve mealie bread

One important thing to note is that due to the corn in this bread it can be quite crumbly. While we first crafted this recipe to be more similar to the crumbly mealie bread we had on safari, much of the feedback from our readers was requesting a cornbread that held together better.

We have since adjusted our recipe a bit to make it a bit closer to the more dense and moist, steamed mealie bread, which does hold together better.

If you prefer your mealie bread to have a bit more of a dry crumb, we recommend increasing the cornmeal by 2 Tbsp. 

Either way, we do recommend letting your bread cool slightly before slicing it, as this helps the slices hold together better. 

More corn side dish recipe

Who doesn’t love a corn side dish, particularly when it’s in season in the summer. These other corn side dish recipes are sure to fill your craving!

(And, if you’re looking to explore more veggie-laden quick breads, you have to try this Southern sweet potato bread. It’s even better than pumpkin bread!)

 

 

Yield: 1 (8x4) loaf of cornbread

Mealie Bread (South African Sweetcorn Bread)

Kernels of sweet corn stud this sweet and flavorful Mealie Bread, a South African sweetcorn bread that is sure to delight any cornbread fan. | www.CuriousCuisiniere.com

Kernels of sweet corn stud this sweet and flavorful Mealie Bread, a South African sweetcorn bread that is sure to delight any cornbread fan. 

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 2 c (330 g) sweet corn kernels, (thawed if frozen, cut off of the cob if fresh), divided
  • ½ c (118 ml) milk
  • 2 eggs, beaten lightly
  • 2 Tbsp (28 g) salted butter, melted
  • 1 ½ c (180 g) unbleached all purpose flour
  • 2 Tbsp cornmeal
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp paprika

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350F. Butter a 8 ½ x 4 ½ loaf tin.
  2. Place 1 cup of corn and the milk into your blender and blend until the corn is nicely pureed. 
  3. Add the remaining 1 cup of corn and blend just enough to chop the kernels coarsely.
  4. Transfer the corn and milk mixture to a medium bowl. Add the beaten eggs and melted butter.
  5. Add the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, and paprika to the bowl. Mix until incorporated and evenly moist.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  7. Bake the mealie bread for 45-50 min. Until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool the bread in the pan for 5 minutes before turning the bread out onto a wire rack to continue cooling.
  9. Serve warm.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1 slice

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 139

 

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Lauren

Sunday 31st of December 2023

Can I use a cake tin instead of a loaf tin?

Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere

Monday 8th of January 2024

Hi Lauren. There's no reason you shouldn't be able to. We've only cooked this in a loaf tin though, so I can't give you precise baking time adjustments. But, as the layer of batter will likely be thinner in the cake tin, you will likely need to shorten the baking time. I would start checking it around 30 minutes, just to be sure you don't over-bake it. Let us know how it turns out for you!

Polina Aronson

Monday 27th of November 2023

Just made it for my family, and it was eaten to the last crumble. Super moist and crispy at the same time. Thank you so much for the recipe!

Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere

Thursday 30th of November 2023

So glad you and your family enjoyed the mealie bread!

Linda

Thursday 23rd of March 2023

Iโ€™m South African. You sure do know that this is the best recipe for Meilie Bread. You can also use this recipe in to make waffles in your waffle machine. Once the waffle is made put all your pizza ingredients on top and grill till the mozzarella cheese is sizzling and golden brown. Walla a tasty lunch.

Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere

Saturday 25th of March 2023

Thank you Linda! And thanks for sharing the waffle tip. We will have to try that!

Jasson

Sunday 19th of February 2023

Very nice recipe chef ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘Œ. Yammy ๐Ÿ˜‹. Thank you for your effort ๐ŸŒž๐Ÿ˜Ž

Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere

Monday 20th of February 2023

Thanks Jasson. We're glad you enjoyed the bread!

Samara Joseph

Tuesday 19th of April 2022

Hi Hannah

Cornmeal is sold in the UK. If your store has a world foods section, it's likely to be there. I have seen and purchased it from Morrison's, Tesco and Sainsbury's in London ALso check your local Asian supermarket. I have also seen in it some Turkish supermarkets

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