LESOTHO: Chakalaka Veggie Hash with Corn Pap

While this dish originated in South Africa, given that Lesotho is a landlocked country within South Africa, it now is commonly eaten in Lesotho as well. Chakalaka is a quick, healthy dish that would make a great side dish to a simple protein but works well as a vegetarian main course.

Chakalaka Veggie Hash

1 tablespoons oil

1 medium yellow onion

2 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon minced ginger

1 tablespoon mild curry powder

1½ teaspoons table salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 red long hot chili

2 bell peppers, ideally 1 red, 1 orange or yellow

2 large tomatoes, such as beefsteak

4 large carrots

1 can Heinz beans in tomato sauce

1. Chop the onion and mince the garlic.

2. Heat the oil in a large lidded pot over medium heat. Add the onions and lower heat to medium low. Cook 3 minutes. While the onions cook, dice the bell peppers and tomatoes, and grate the carrots.

3. Add the garlic, ginger. curry powder, salt, pepper, and chili to the pot. Cook and stir for a 1 minute. Add the bell peppers and cook for another 2 minutes.

   Add the tomatoes, carrots, and beans (with their liquid). Slighlty increase the heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the carrots are tender.

4. Serve over pap or rice.

Corn Pap

2 cups maize meal (also known as mealie meal, or coarse/medium ground white cornmeal)

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter (optional, for extra richness)

1. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, bring the 4 cups of water, salt, and butter (if using) to a rolling boil. Slowly sprinkle in about half of the maize meal while stirring continuously with a whisk or wooden spoon to prevent lumps from forming.

2. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let it steam for 10 minutes. Remove the lid, add the remaining maize meal, and stir vigorously. The mixture should become very thick. If it feels too stiff, stir in a splash of boiling water.

3. Cover again and let it cook on the lowest heat for about 15 to 20 minutes to fully cook the grains.Give one final stir, then shape it into a dome by dishing it out using a bowl.

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FUN FACTS:

• Lesotho is nicknamed the "Kingdom of the Sky". More than 80% of its land sits above 5900 feet above sea level.

• Lesotho is home to the Matekane Air Strip, a famous, hair-raising runway carved into a sheer cliff edge with a 1,968-foot drop.

• Lesotho is one of just three enclave countries in the world (fully surrounded by one country — in Lesotho's case South Africa). The other two are San Marino and Vatican City, which are both surrounded entirely by Italy.