Go Back
South African Putu Pap with Livers and Veg

Putu Pap and Livers

Irene Muller
Livers gently cooked with bacon in a simple sauce and served with crunchy stir fried veg and traditional South African pap.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine South African
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

For the Pap

  • 2.5 cups Water boiling
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 2 cups Maize Meal
  • 1 knob Butter

For the Livers

  • 250 g Ox Liver thinly sliced and dusted with flour
  • 250 g Bacon Strips chopped
  • 1/2 Green Pepper chopped
  • 1/2 Red or Yellow Pepper chopped
  • 1 Red Onion chopped
  • 1 Brown Onion chopped
  • 1 tbsp Dried Herbs of your choice
  • 1 tbsp Vegetable Stock mixed into 1 cup of water
  • Butter
  • 4 tbsp Olive Oil
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • 1/2 glass Red Wine optional
  • 5 Spring Onions chopped
  • Parsley chopped

Instructions
 

For the Pap

  • Pour boiling water and salt into the saucepan with a thick base and lid. Bring to the boil. 
  • Add the maize meal to the boiling water and leave it just as it is. Close the lid without stirring.
  • Reduce heat and simmer gently for 5 minutes.
  • Remove lid and stir well with a large kitchen fork.
  • Replace lid, reduce heat even more and steam for about half an hour or until done, but be careful not to burn it.
  • Fluff with a fork or wooden spoon a few times during cooking. Set aside.

For the Livers

  • In a large frying pan, add a knob of butter, when melted stir-fry the onions until light golden brown, add the peppers and herbs, sauté the vegetables until cooked but still firm. 
  • In a separate skillet or frying pan add a knob of butter and a little oil, that will help not to burn. It is important that the oil and butter is heated in the pan before food is placed in the pan.
  • Fry the bacon pieces until golden brown, remove and set aside in a dish to use later.
  • Add more butter and oil if needed, add the well-coated liver and fry until crispy and golden brown on both sides. Set aside with the bacon.
  • To the same frying pan, you add the stock and let it simmer for at least 15 minutes on medium heat.  When the sauce has reduced a little, add the liver, bacon and red wine, let it simmer on reduced heat for another few minutes. 
  • While this dish is simmering, heat the vegetables in the frying pan again, when heated fold into the Putu pap. Remove the liver from the heat, add the chopped spring onions and parsley just before serving. Season with black pepper.
Keyword Bacon, Green Pepper, Maize, Ox Livers