Madhumbe Sadza

Last week I got into a conversation about the name I used for Mazhanje Jam. The argument was that I should use an English name for the jam as more people would immediately know it. I get the argument, I write my blog in English for a wider reach beyond Shona speakers after all. For me, however, I write and create to be understood by people in Zimbabwe. I think if I say mazhanje jam, they will immediately get it.

I do struggle naming things. From the books, patterns and recipes. I do read some of my earlier posts and laugh because it was so vague and I ask myself why would anyone want to read that!

Today I am going to show you how to make madhumbe sadza. When I came up with this name, I wondered if it would make you think of mashed madhumbe. Does it?

Initially I was going to make this sadza purely out of madhumbe flour but in my head it would be sticky and I don’t think I would like it. So I mixed the flour with some maize meal. Kind of looks like the multigrain sadza mix being sold in Zimbabwe.

I cooked it like you would sadza. Looks like sadza, tastes like sadza but smells like madhumbe. I have questions though, like is this sadza healthier than what we normally eat? Would producing a maize meal- madhumbe flour mix make hupfu less expensive? Would it help reduce the import bill for maize during drought years?

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Madhumbe Sadza

Ingredients

• 1 cup white maize meal yellow will work too
• 1 cup madhumbe flour

Instructions

1. In a bowl mix the maize meal and madhumbe flour until well mixed. Set aside.

   

2. Boil 2 cups water in a kettle.

3. In a small bowl, combine half a cup of maize meal-madhumbe flour mix and half a cup cold water. Stir to mix. Add to the saucepan. Then add the hot water. Stir until it starts to bubble.

4. Leave to bubble for 10 -15 minutes. Then add the remaining maize meal-madhumbe flour mix a quarter cup at a time, mixing well until thickened to your desired consistency. (Some people like soft, porridge-like sadza and some prefer it hard.)

5. Serve with sour milk or vegetables and meat.