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Sadza Recipe

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Sadza Recipe

Sadza is a simple, hearty dish that forms the backbone of many Zimbabwean meals. It's traditionally eaten with hands, rolled into a ball, and used to scoop up accompanying dishes like stews, leafy greens, or meat

Course Main Course

Cuisine African

Keyword sadza

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 30

Servings 3 people

Calories 180kcal

Cost 2

Equipment

1 Large pot
Wooden spoon or large whisk
Measuring cups

Ingredients

2 cups maize meal (also called mealie meal or white cornmeal)
4 cups water
Pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions

Start with a Paste:
In a large pot, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup of maize meal with 1 cup of cold water to create a smooth paste.
Cook the Paste:
Slowly add the maize meal paste to the boiling water while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or whisk to prevent lumps from forming. Continue stirring until the mixture starts to thicken
Cook the Sadza:
Gradually add the remaining 1 cup of maize meal to the pot, a little at a time, while stirring. Reduce the heat to low and continue stirring as the mixture thickens. The sadza should become very thick and smooth.
Simmer:
Cover the pot and let the sadza simmer on low heat for about 10-15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If it becomes too thick, you can add a little more water and stir it in.
Serve:
Once fully cooked, the sadza should be thick and smooth, pulling away from the sides of the pot. Serve it hot, typically with vegetables, stews, or meat.

Video

Notes

Serving Suggestions:

Sadza is commonly served with relish, which can be anything from leafy greens like collard greens (known locally as muriwo) to meat stews or bean dishes. A traditional combination would be sadza served with beef stew and sautéed greens.