Maize meal is one of South Africa’s most loved staple ingredients—and with good reason. This hearty mealie bread recipe is a delicious way to use it, whether you're baking it in the oven, cooking it over the coals in a cast iron pot, or making muffins for lunchboxes. It’s freezer-friendly, packed with flavour, and easily adaptable with your favourite add-ins. You can use Pride Maize Meal, available online at Hinterland, for the perfect result every time.

Ingredients:

• 3 ½ cups cake flour
  

• 1 cup fine Pride maize meal
  

• 1 tbsp baking powder
  

• ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  

• ¼ cup white sugar
  

• 1 tsp seasoned salt of your choice
  

• ½ cup butter
  

• 350 ml milk (heated but not boiled; stir in butter until melted, then let cool)
  

• 2 extra-large eggs
  

• 410 g (1 can) creamed sweetcorn
  

• 410 g (1 can) whole kernel corn (you can also use frozen or fresh corn)
  

• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
  

• 1 cup cooked and chopped bacon or ham
  
  

Optional Add-ins (up to ¾ cup total):
 Fried onions, bell peppers, olives, feta, spinach purée

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease two to three small loaf pans.
   

2. Sift together all the dry ingredients and make a well in the centre.
   

3. Add eggs to the cooled milk and butter mixture.
   

4. Stir in the sweetcorn, whole corn, cheese, bacon/ham, and any optional add-ins.
   

5. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans and cover with foil.
   

6. Bake for 55 minutes. Remove foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.
   

7. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before removing from pans.
   
   

For muffins:
 Bake at 180°C for 35 minutes without covering.

Source: Recipe by Annelien Pienaar, www.annelienpienaar.co.za, published on 2021-10-07.