DO This
Nhopi is one of those healthy and really filling snacks that I like. Traditionally in the Zimbabwean context it is made using nhanga (pumpkin) but if that is not available (due to seasons or access) a butternut as in this case will work perfectly.This is one of the reasons why I chose to share with you this butternut nhopi variant.
You may recall that nhopi used to be a hit for many people during school days.
You could for sure count on your mother or mbuya getting some really nice nhopi prepared for your early morning indulgence or anytime of the day for that matter. Oh my Oh my…good old days! According to its nutritional facts, butternut is one food that is great for the good health of your heart. It is one of those heart healthy foods. So really, you are in safe hands.
Butternuts are a great source of dietary fibre, folate and vitamin A. These aid in keeping your heart healthy. Fibre, as you may already know, works wonders for your digestive system, especially when you are constipated!
Peanut butter which is accompanying the butternut nhopi am doing today is an excellent source of protein, which among other things helps to keep you feeling fuller for longer. So you can really count on nhopi to keep young ones and even yourself fuller for some hours to come. Our mothers knew the trick! 🙂
You may count on the dairy milk added to the nhopi preparation to supply some calcium which is good for your child’s bones and teeth (and even yourself). So when you indulge in this snack/meal, if your body and heart could speak, they would thank you for it!! Bon Appetite.
Quick Instructions
1. Gather the ingredients together and get ready to start.
2. Wash butternuts (2 medium sized butternuts) and peel then wash butternuts again.
3. Cut, de-seed and cut the butternut into rough chunks.
4. Put butternut chunks into pot, add water and sugar (2 tbsp brown granulated sugar).
5. Add pinch of salt, cover and cook for 20 minutes. or until they’re soft and easy to pierce using a fork, mash butternut then add margarine (1 tbsp) or butter.
6. Pour milk (60 ml) and mash. Add peanut butter (2 tbsp) and mash.
7. Your nhopi is ready!
Pictorial Detailed Instructions
Let me know how it goes in your kitchen. Come and drop me a comment below!
haiwa kuzipa!!!….good stuff….now eagerly waiting for the “traditional” one…
Thank you Kedu Jonso! And don’t you worry…the traditional one will be coming.
what was the deal with adding mealiemeal to traditional nhopi yemanhanga? Was that just a way of stretching it so it could feed and fill up many?
Hi Pure. You’ve just hit the nail on the head! I’ll be doing that traditional version seeing as we’re now in the pumpkin season here. Thanks for dropping in.
This is a brilliant idea! I made it today and it tastes really good. @ Pure I think the traditional recipe requires the cornmeal to thicken it…mafere (different from manhanga) gives out a lot of liquid when cooked.
Thank you Embe 🙂
Love it ,love it , love it Rumbie. Wow this is great
Haha I can’t stop laughing am so excited. Thank u so much. So my muroora in Australia just sent mi a pic of her making nhopi. Truth be told hated it when we were home. I asked for a recipe lol and she teased me about how it was her family secret recipe. So I googled it but was sure nothing was gonna pop out. And Lord behold it sure did. Thank u. Am so trying this.
Auto correct yenyu iyi. **lo & behold**
Lol! You’re most welcome Nettie… I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!
Lovely. Will try this tomorrow.
Thanks Rumbi,at the time of writing this note to you my nhanga is on the fire ready to be nhopified!!!
I truly loving this
Thanks Rumbi,at the time of writing this note to you my nhanga is on the fire ready to be nhopified!!!
Im truly loving this
Hi Susan,you’re most welcome. Here’s hoping the “nhopification” went down well 😀
Wau! After more than 20 years, today I am preparing this amazing Nhopi. My English hubby brought the pumpkin. His idea was to make it some juice (God knows how) He said some Australian friends used to make variety of food and drinks. Okay, after few discussions on how to prepare, I realised I had no clue or confidence. NHOPI -MAIZE MEAL (CORNMEAL) WITH PUMPKIN
NHOPI: it is a traditional Zimbabwean dish which can be served sweet or savoury. It is made using pumpkin, (butternut squash works well too), maize meal, peanut butter and water. The classic recipe does also use mashamba but these are not available here as far as I’m aware. I also do not know their English name, if they have any
While the majority of people here were getting excited about pumpkins for halloween in the past few weeks I was excited about making Nhopi! The pumpkin season is particularly delightful as it marks the beginning of autumn, one of my favourite culinary seasons. Lots and lots of comfort food building up to Christmas!
My dear Grandmother (RIP) used to make nhopi for us whenever we went to visit during the holidays. She used to make the sweet version of it which is what I prefer so here is the recipe
1 Small pumpkin
750 ml of water
1/4 cup maize meal
2 tablespoons peanut butter
3 -4 teaspoons sugar (adjust to your taste)
1/4 teaspoon salt again adjust to your taste. It also depends on the peanut butter brand you are using. Some are quite salty
Method
Cut the pumpkin in half and remove seeds and strands strands of fibre. Peel and chop the flesh Put the prepared pumpkin 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 “musika” which is essentially a whisk but used in a slightly different way to a modern whisk. You do not have to use this as a handheld blender will do a much quicker job. 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 into the pureed pumpkin (which should have the consistency of a very thin soup). Add 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, a little more maize meal.I then send a whattsup message on family group hoping to get some ideas. My little cousin sister coincidentally she made the nhopi today. Whilst waiting for her recipe. Bang GOOGLE nailed it with Rumbie’s zimbabwe kitchen. Well done, proud of you. Hope it will be tasty and hubby will enjoy it. My tete who is in her 80s also advised to prepare on low heat.
Thank you so much
The pleasure is all mine. Thank you for sharing yours too!
Thanx fr ur good and easy recipes.wil definately try this on long weekend
Good one.l have missed nhopi.thank you for the recipe.
Thank you Rumbie
Ohhh nice this recipe brings old memories thank you Rumbie
Thank you so much Rumbi l last ate them in 1993 ahh l will make nhopi for my sons thanks a lot
yoh nhopi inonaka iyoyi thanx Rumbie, taitongoti vana mama vedu ndovanogona kubika zvino takugonawo kkkk
kkkkkk Tambu! I love me some nhopi too 😀
Awww nhasi tanakirwa hama dzangu did the butternut nhopi and yay the kids loved it so much. Thank you Rumbie for the recipe
It’s my pleasure Fau 🙂 Glad you all liked it
Thank you so much, I tried this today and it’s so delicious. Your instructions are so easy to follow too.