Soft mealie meal porridge with peanut butter and banana

Name: Soft mealie meal porridge with peanut butter and banana
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2 portions

Soft maize meal porridge, the everyday South African breakfast, made with milk and finished with peanut butter and banana so it carries you further into the morning.

Prep: 5 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 20 min
Portions: 2

Easy
Trying to conceive
Preparing for pregnancy
Budget-friendly
Quick and easy
Vegetarian
Store-cupboard

Make this recipe

Portions

Ingredient quantities update automatically. Cooking times may need a little adjustment when you change the batch size.

Swap an ingredient

Only swaps that keep this recipe pregnancy-safe are offered. Allergen information below updates when you choose one.

Dairy-free alternative: use fortified soya milk instead of low-fat milk
Ingredient unavailable: use 2 tbsp sunflower seed butter instead of smooth peanut butter

Ingredients

For 2 portions. Tick items as you go — nothing is changed for anyone else.

This recipe contains foods that can contribute to a varied and balanced diet during pregnancy.

Method

Step 1. Whisk the maize meal into the cold water in a pot so there are no lumps.
Step 2. Bring to the boil, stirring, then turn the heat down low.
Step 3. Cook gently for 10–12 minutes, stirring often, until thick and smooth.
Step 4. Stir in the milk and heat through for another 2 minutes.
Step 5. Spoon into bowls, swirl the peanut butter through and top with banana and a pinch of cinnamon.

Allergens for your selection

Contains: Peanuts
Contains: Milk

Ingredient brands and substitutions can change allergen content. Always check the labels on the products you buy.

Food safety

Wash fruit, vegetables and leafy greens such as morogo in clean water before cooking or eating them raw.
Cook eggs, chicken, meat and fish thoroughly, and keep raw and cooked foods on separate boards and plates.
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate them and reheat once until piping hot throughout. If the power is off, prepare only what you will eat that day.
Anyone planning a pregnancy is generally advised to take a daily folic acid supplement before conception — ask your doctor, pharmacist or fertility clinic what is right for you.
Use pasteurised milk. Keep peanut butter tightly closed and dry, and throw away anything that smells stale or shows mould.
Combining protein, fibre and minimally processed starch makes a meal more filling and releases energy more gradually. No single food or recipe improves fertility or guarantees conception. Individual dietary advice should come from a registered dietitian or your doctor.

Allergens

Contains: Peanuts
Contains: Milk

Ingredient brands and substitutions can change allergen content. Always check the labels on the products you buy.

Supplements and drinks

A daily folic acid supplement is widely recommended before conception and through early pregnancy to help prevent neural tube defects. Folate-rich foods do not replace the supplement. Ask your doctor which dose applies to you and follow your national health authority's guidance.
Vitamin D and iron requirements vary with diet, sunlight exposure and health conditions. Ask your doctor whether you need a supplement and follow your national health authority's guidance.
There is no known safe level of alcohol in pregnancy, and most guidance suggests keeping caffeine to around 200 mg a day. Recipes here contain no alcohol.

Sources

South African food-based dietary guidelines — National Department of Health, South Africa, reviewed 7 September 2026
Healthy diet — World Health Organization, reviewed 7 September 2026