Green Mealie Bread is a popular bread eaten in South Africa and differs from regular corn bread in that it is made with real corn versus cornmeal. Mealie is the South African term for corn or maize and is a staple crop in South Africa. “Green corn” refers to young, tender sweet corn. Green Mealie Bread, then, refers to the type of corn you would use to make this recipe – green or young corn. Another hallmark of this recipe is that, traditionally, this bread was cooked by steaming it over water with little more than corn and a few seasonings (ie. no flour) and then cooked in water-soaked corn husks. You can find a more authentic version of this bread cooked HERE.
Today, South Africans prefer a more “bready” version that uses flour. Head on over to Global Table Adventure and cook up a recipe of Mealie Bread, or Mealie Bread with Blackened Peppers.
The following, however, is a simpler version of this bread to make for a classroom setting.
Green Mealie Bread
- 2 cups biscuit mix
- 1 cup creamed corn
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 ounces butter, melted
*Recipe feeds 20; I tripled the recipe for my class.
Place the biscuit mix, creamed corn and sugar in a large bowl.
Stir to combine.
Whisk egg and milk together.
Add to dough and stir until just combined.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease baking pans. Use a 9×13 pan; or cookie sheets with sides work well for feeding large numbers. Place the mealie mixture into pan and bake for 20 minutes.
While warm, coat bread with melted butter.
Melts in your mouth!
This was a class favorite, especially when served with a bowl of beans and rice!