Zimbabwe – Bota (Milk Porridge)

by Bob Huyu

Searching in the internet for a meaning of the word “Bota”, you’ll get “A leather bag or sack for holding wine”, really? Yes.

In Zimbabwe Bota is native term meaning a special prepared porridge from milk, peanut butter and probably more ingredients, that is taken normally in the morning as breakfast to give a day strength.

Although this cuisine is a long generation inheritance in most of the rural areas, it’s significance has been taken so serious in town places like Chitungwiza in Harare where food vendors (mama ntilie) do make it, sell and generating income.

Today we are going to prepare this cuisine with potatoes and meat mix.

Preparation

• Take one liter of milk

• Boil it to ensure safeness.
• Watch for the boiling point so that it won’t pour off.
• Using wood spoon to stir while boiling will reduce pour out rate.

• Peanut butter

• If you have use 1 liter of milk, you may need to add 5 teaspoons of peanut butter.
• Excess from that may work better, but it is not recommended either.

• 1/4 kg of meat. (liver meat may give a better taste)
• 3 Potatoes.
• Garlic
• Pepper powder.

Cooking steps

• Prepare meat by cut it into small pieces, boil it well.
• Peel off potatoes, cut into small pieces as well, boil them too.
• Grin garlic, put in clean plate.
• Start your cooker and put milk on heat again.
• Mix garlic with peanut butter. Take milk (already boiled) add into the mix, keep boil.
• Add potatoes and meat, hold pan and mix them by stirring the pan.
• Put off the cooker, take clean plate and serve, add on top some pepper powder if the one who eats this cuisine, likes pepper. Enjoy it.

Welcome for more tastes from Zimbabwe, Delicious dishes.