Samp is one meal that South Africans relish, and it is recognised to be one of Nelson's Mandela's best meals. It is preferred because of how affordable and simple it is to make. To add to it, it is a very rich source of starch. Would you like to know how to make it? How about reading on for more details?
Is samp a starch? It is a carbohydrate that is made of dried corn kernels that have been stamped. It is a common variant that the South African Zulu people relish and refer to as Isistambu. Its versatility is what makes it preferred. You might want to read on about the various ways on how to prepare it.
Samp recipe
Traditionally, samp was prepared by mixing it with beans and boiling it until the meal becomes soft enough to be eaten. Apart from the most common one, there are other samp meals that you could try out to spice up the dish.
Samp and mutton
If you are after a high-protein dish, you can spice up the traditional meal by going in with mutton. You can go in with a tad of spices to make it more palatable. The fascinating thing about it is that the dish is simple to prepare.
Ingredients
- 500g samp
- 500g speckled sugar beans
- 250g of mutton
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons ginger and garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon masala
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chilli powder
- ½ teaspoon ground fennel
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 Roma Tomato skin removed and grated
- 1 star aniseed
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 sprig curry leaf
- salt
- Coriander for garnishing
Method
11. Drain the excess water from the boiled samp and add it to the lamb and mix it in. If you need more gravy, add some more water. Allow everything to cook for five minutes on low heat before turning the heat off.
12. Garnish with the coriander and serve while hot.
This method can be used to prepare samp and chicken.
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Samp recipe with milk
If you are after a starchy dish that is high in calories, this recipe is ideal for you. You can add a couple of spices depending on your taste buds. Instead of going on with the milk, you can go in with fresh cream.
Ingredients
- 500g samp
- Fresh cream
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon turmeric
- Curry leaves
- Salt
Method
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Samp recipe vegetables
If you are vegan or vegetarian, you can try out samp food as a healthy source of starch. You can go in with your vegetables of choice. The preparation process is simple, as well.
Ingredients
- 2000ml water
- 60ml oil
- 1 tablespoonsalt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 5 carrots, sliced into rings
- 1 green pepper, chopped into strips
- ½ cabbage, shredded
- 1 onion, chopped into thin slices
- 2 large potatoes, diced
Method
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Vegetables
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have never tasted samp, you ought to try it out. You will marvel at how easy it is to prepare. You will also be blown by how delicious and versatile the dish it. The answers to these questions will enlighten you on the meal.
What is samp made of?
Samp is a complete dish that comprises of two main ingredients: dried corn kernels that have been stamped. It is a filling carbohydrate that can be made in different ways, depending on how you prefer to have it. You can have it with beans, chicken, mutton or even with vegetables.
Do you soak samp in hot or cold water?
Before cooking samp, it is essential to soak it in boiling water since boiling water helps in accelerating the process of softening it. Alternatively, you could use cold water and let it soak overnight in cold water. The temperature of the water determines how much time it will take before it softens.
How long should I soak samp before cooking?
If you wish to reduce your cooking time, you can soak the samp in cold water. Soaking it overnight helps in making it tender. You will be required to drain off the excess water before cooking it.
How do you soak Samp overnight?
Before soaking the samp, it is essential to wash it in clean water to get rid of excess starch. After draining off the water, add clean water to the washed samp and allow it to sit overnight. The soaking makes the samp softer, so it reduces the cooking time.
The three samp recipes are ideal for anyone who has been thinking of trying out the dish. The best part about them is that the preparation method is simple and that one is not limited to their choice of spices.
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