Ingredients
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1 Small pumpkin
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750 ml Water
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1/4 cup maize meal
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2 tablespoons peanut butter
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3 -4 teaspoons Sugar(adjust to your taste)
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1/4 teaspoon Saltagain adjust to your taste
Directions
How to Make Nhopi:
- Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and strands of fiber.
- Peel and chop the flesh, put into a saucepan, and add the water.
- Bring to the boil and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the pumpkin is tender. It should mash easily using a fork.
- Turn the heat off and puree the pumpkin.
- Traditionally we use a utensil called a musika, which is essentially a whisk but used in a slightly differently to a modern whisk. Of course, you do not have to use a musika as a handheld blender will do the job much quicker. I use mine purely for the fond memories I have of my childhood.
- In a separate bowl, mix the maize meal with a little cold water to form a paste.
- Stir this into the puréed pumpkin, which should have the consistency of a very thin soup. Add the peanut butter, salt, and sugar
- Bring the nhopi back to the boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- If at this point it is too thick, add a little more water; if too thin, add a little more maize meal.
- Serve hot.
