South African · Breakfast & brunch

Mealie pap with tomato and eggs

Name: Mealie pap with tomato and eggs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: South African
Ingredients: 5 cups water, divided; 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided; 1 1/2 cups fine white maize meal; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 tablespoons neutral oil, divided; 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced; 4 ripe plum tomatoes, grated; 1 small green chile, minced, optional; 1 teaspoon mild curry powder; 1 teaspoon brown sugar, optional; 4 pasteurized large eggs; Black pepper

Soft savory South African white-maize pap with slow tomato-onion smoor and crisp fried eggs.

About 50 minTotal

About 45 minActive

$Cost

ModerateDifficulty

Makes 4 servings

Equipment

Use a hot sheet pan under an inverted oven-safe metal bowl for the covered phase.
Best value covered pot
Lodge Essential Enamel 6-Quart Dutch Oven · EC6D43
View at Amazon
Another workable path: Use a hot sheet pan under an inverted oven-safe metal bowl for the covered phase.
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How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We matched capacity, lid fit, oven rating, heat retention, maneuverability, care, stable model identity, and usefulness outside bread baking. Kwilt has not baked with this pot.
Lodge Essential Enamel 6-Quart Dutch Oven · EC6D43: The six-quart capacity, heavy cast-iron body, and fitted lid create the enclosed high-heat environment used by these bread methods while remaining useful beyond baking. Trade-off: At more than thirteen pounds it is demanding to move when hot, and the enamel needs gentler utensils and hand washing.
Another workable path: Bake on a preheated heavy sheet pan under an inverted oven-safe metal bowl, keeping face and hands clear when removing the hot cover.
Sources
Lodge six-quart Essential Enamel specifications
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 4 servings

5 cups water, divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 1/2 cups fine white maize meal
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons neutral oil, divided
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
4 ripe plum tomatoes, grated
1 small green chile, minced, optional
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1 teaspoon brown sugar, optional
4 pasteurized large eggs
Black pepper

Instructions

Bring 4 cups water and half the salt to a boil. Whisk 1 cup water into maize meal, then whisk the slurry . Lower heat, cover, and cook 25 to 30 minutes, stirring and scraping every few minutes, until smooth and fully tender. Beat in butter.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Cook onion until soft and golden at the edges, 8 minutes.
Add grated tomato, chile, curry powder, optional sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer until glossy, concentrated, and spoonable rather than watery, 10 to 12 minutes.
Heat remaining oil in a separate skillet and fry pasteurized eggs until whites set and edges crisp; season with remaining salt and pepper.
Spoon soft pap into bowls, make a shallow well for tomato smoor, and add eggs just before serving.