How to make pap for babies
Pap is the first food some Nigerian mothers make to help their little ones develop and grow healthy and happy. There are different recipes for preparing Nigerian homemade baby food. You can choose the ones that sound interesting and easy cooking to you. We would like to introduce you to cooking one of the most delicious baby foods. Let us learn how to make pap for babies at home.
Baby food in Nigeria
Nigerian pap has many different names. For example, Yoruba people know this meal as Ogi. Pap is called Koko in Hausaland and it is known as Akamu among Igbos tribe members.
Usually, pap meal includes 3 main ingredients. Some parents like to use all three grains, while others decide that two is enough. It is also possible to use powdered corn flour or cornmeal to prepare this baby food at home. We will share both recipes and you can experience and find the solutions that have incredible taste and are faster to cook.
How to make pap at home
Usually, you can make amazing pap using sorghum, white millet, and regular corn. Such homemade food will be nutritious and very healthy since the three grains include the natural resources (vitamins and minerals) that are extremely important for growing a healthy child.
Ingredients for delicious pap:
- Corn (dry, use white or yellow) – two cups
- Millet (it is better to use the white one) – three cups
- Sorghum (or guinea corn) – three cups
- Water – several cups
- Cinnamon or ginger (to your personal taste, this ingredient is optional)
- Cloth (chiffon and cotton works well) – two pieces
- Cotton bag (use the one from salt, just make sure it has no salt left)
- Big-size bowl – one piece
- Paint bucket (if you don’t have a refrigerator at home) – one piece
- Step 1. Each type of grain should be carefully washed. Get rid of pieces of sand and stones to make sure the grain is ready to use. Remember that we are cooking baby food, it takes time but the result will be delicious and healthy.
- Step 2. Use a big bowl. Add all three grains into the same bowl and cover them with water.
- Step 3. Use the piece of cloth to cover the bowl. You will have to put it away for up to 3 days. It will be enough time for the grains to ferment, but you should change water ones a day.
- Step 4. Three days later, you should add the grains to the blender or grinding mill. Add cinnamon (or another flavor if you want to) and blend the mixture to make it look smooth.
- Step 5. Use the piece of cotton cloth to sieve the mixture. It is better to sieve small amount of mixture at a time into a bowl.
- Step 6. Set the meal aside for about 3 hours. This should be enough time for the pap and water separate from each other.
- Step 7. The clear water at the top of your baby pap is something you need no longer. Pour it out.
- Step 8. Stir the brown pap and use the cotton bag where you should pour your meal. It is important to get rid of all the extra water so squash the bag. You can also put it on a flat surface with a heavy object on top to let the water drain away.
- Step 9. Baby food (pap) is finally ready. Some people prefer storing it in smaller bags in the refrigerator.
Don’t worry if there is no refrigerator at your home. You can stop at the Step 6 and simply add the mixture into a paint bucket covering it with water. Make sure to pour clean water into the bucket once a day to preserve the pap in good condition.
READ ALSO: Homemade baby food in Nigeria: best recipes
How to make powdered pap
This sounds like a simple recipe, but it takes a long time to prepare. You only need two ingredients:
- Corn flour or cornmeal (better use white, not yellow) – 2 cups
- Water – enough to cover all the corn powder
- Step 1. Add the corn powder to the bowl and cover it with water.
- Step 2. Stir the mixture.
- Step 3. You should cover the bowl with a cloth and leave like this for 2-3 weeks. It is better to find a warm place for this mixture and you’ll have to change the water once in 3-4 days.
- Step 4. Add ½ cup of the solid mixture you got along with ¼ cup of cold water into a big bowl and mix it to get a thick paste.
- Step 5. Now add 2 cups of hot water (let it boil before adding) little by little and keep stirring the paste. You will see how it becomes thicker. Add water until you get the texture you love.
- Step 6. You can also place this mixture on low heat oven and keep stirring for a couple of minutes to complete the pap meal.
It takes several days to make baby’s pap food at home, but this is worth your time. This healthy meal can be easily mixed with hot water (when you are ready to serve it). Serve it with fruit, milk and other food and your Nigerian baby food will taste incredible. Babies will love it.
READ ALSO: Benefits of guinea corn and millet for babies
Source: Legit.ng
