There’s something truly South African about starting the day with a huge bowl of Maltabella porridge. Some say it’s like a delectable warm hug in a bowl, and most Saffas would agree!

Like boerewors, biltong and potjiekos, Matabella porridge isn’t new to the kombuis table. In fact, it’s been around for just over half a century. That is about fifty years for those of you still struggling to catch the early worm!

Most cultures have their own idea of what the ultimate breakfast should look like; for example, the French have their delicate pastries and coffees, and the Germans have their sausages and bread. Although one can’t be certain, they don’t sneak in a little sauerkraut and beer too! Interestingly enough, the British are the ones that seem to know how to produce a decent sunny-side-up egg with toast and all the trimmings. But, their tasty breakfast buffets are no match for a delicious bowl of Maltabella pap!

Maltabella ingredients

Maltabella porridge is made from 99% malted sorghum grain ground into a fine powder. Sorghum is an ancient grain and is one of the most important cereal crops grown on the planet. Besides providing humans with a tasty breakfast, its also used to feed agricultural animals and can be made into fuel or syrup. Now that’s versatility for you! According to the product information on the packaging label, the remaining 1% of Matabella ingredients is made up of salt.

Nutritional facts  

Eating a tasty bowl of Matabella porridge benefits your health significantly; you only have to look at this porridge’s shopping list of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to see why this statement is true. Each bowl of malted sorghum is jam-packed with carbohydrates, good proteins, vitamins, minerals, and a tiny smidge of fat. It’s also low in sodium (salt); remember that 1%? Furthermore, it contains zero low-density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol).

As if that weren’t enough to have you diving into a dish of this yummy porridge, it’s also rich in fiber, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. And just when you thought you had come to the end of the list, it also contains a large portion of your RDA (recommended daily allowance) of Vitamin B, niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin. Maltabella porridge, anyone?

History Of Maltabella pap revealed

Some porridge connoisseurs would argue that South Africa also produces other excellent porridges like Jungle oats; cue the soundtrack for South Africa’s champion energy breakfast, but there’s some about the malty flavour of Maltabella porridge that surpasses them all.

If you didn’t already know, Maltabella is a BOKOMO brand. According to their website, seven grain farmers established the brand in the early 1900s. Over the last century, the brand has developed and grown into the well-known brand we all love today. So the next time you dip your brekkie spoon into a malty bowl of Maltabella, dunk your breakfast rusks, or munch on a bowl of cornflakes, remember to thank those grain farmers from way back when.

Maltabella porridge recipe

Did you know that Maltabella porridge is gluten-free? In fact, it can be used as a flour substitute in many tasty recipes, including rusks, biscuits, bread, puddings, and dumplings, to mention a few. However, to truly appreciate the flavour of Maltabella porridge, you need to know how to cook it correctly. This is why it makes sense for our recipe section to cover how to make Maltabela on the stove and in the microwave.

How to make Maltabella on stove

What you need

• 2 cups Maltabella porridge
• 2 cups cold water
• 3 cups boiling water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 medium-sized pot
• 1 whisk

What to do  

• Mix the Maltabella and salt with the cold water until it forms a smooth paste.
• Pour the porridge paste into the boiling water while continuously whisking to prevent any lumps from forming.
• Then cook the porridge over medium heat for approximately 4 minutes. Remember to stir the mixture throughout the cooking process; this prevents the porridge from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Once cooked, remove the porridge from the stove/hob and serve immediately for great-tasting porridge.

How to make Maltabella in microwave

What you need

• 2 cups Maltabella porridge
• 2 cups cold water
• 3 cups boiling water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 medium microwave-safe container/bowl
• 1 wooden spoon

What to do

• Blend the porridge, salt, and water in a medium microwave-safe bowl or container. Ensure the mixture is smooth and lump-free.
• Next, add the boiling water to the paste, using the wooden spoon to stir continuously.
• Microwave the mixture on full power for 5 minutes, stopping to stir it every 30 seconds for the first 2 minutes.
• For the remaining 3 minutes, continue to cook on full power but stir the mixture once every minute.
• Once the cooking time is completed, remove the container from the microwave and set it aside to stand for 2 minutes. This will allow the porridge to thicken.

Serving suggestions

Maltabella porridge must be served piping hot to enjoy its full malty flavour. Why not try these decadent toppings to add extra malty-licious goodness?

• Top with milk or a milk alternative, dollops of salted butter, and a sprinkling of sugar.
• Stir in lashings of cream and drizzle with honey, then top with coconut flakes and raspberries.
• Load your bowl of Maltabella with grated apple, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and a drizzle of honey. Finally, add a splotch of natural yoghurt – yum!

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