NAMIBIA: Grilled Spiced Steak (Kapana) with Microwave Cornmeal Pap and Salsa

When we were done eating, my daughter said, "We clearly need to be eating Namibian food more often." Simple, satisfying, and well balanced. Definitely on our repeat list.

Grilled Spiced Steak (Kapana)

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon ginger powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon ground mustard

¼ teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 ½ lbs sirloin or ribeye steak

1. Mix the brown sugar with all of the spices. Reserve 1 teaspoon of the kapana spice mixture for the salsa, and 2 tablespoons for dipping one's cooked meat.

2. Slice steak against the grain  into long thin pieces. Rub spice mixture into meat (you likely will have extra that you can save for another day) and let sit for 30 minutes to 24 hours.

3. Turn grill onto high heat. Cook 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook other side, for 1-2 minutes.

4. Serve on top of the pap and garnish with salsa. Diners can sprinkle kapana spice mixture on their plates to dip the cooked meat into if they choose.

Microwave Cornmeal Pap

1 cup fine or medium ground cornmeal, ideally white if you can find it*

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons butter

Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large, microwave safe bowl, mix the cornmeal with 2 cups of water until smooth. Cover and microwave 5 minutes.Stir thoroughly, being sure to whisk out lumps and scrape the bottom of the bowl.

2. In a small microwave bowl, heat the butter in the milk in the microwave until the butter is just melted. Add in a generous pinch of salt. Pour the mixture into pap. Mix again until combined.

3. Cover and cook again, another 5 minutes. Stir again and taste for seasoning.

*I went down the rabbit hole debating which type of cornmeal or corn flour is closest to the mielie meal used in Namibian pap. Polenta or grits are thicker than used in Namibia, but corn flour is finer. In the end, I settled on Bob's Red Mill medium grind cornmeal.

Salsa

2 small heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes

½ red onion

1 jalapeño pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon kapana spice (see above)

1. Seed and chop the tomatoes. Finely chop the onion. Seed and finely chop the  jalapeño pepper.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the tomatoes, onion, pepper, oil, vinegar, and spice mixture.

3. Let rest at room temperature up to one hour.

   
   

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FUN FACTS:

• The entire coastline of Namibia is protected as a national park.

• The highest sand dunes in the world are found in Namibia; the largest is more than 1200 feet. Thousands of climbers visit the dunes to climb them each year.

• The largest crystal cluster in the world was discovered in 1985 in a cave in Namibia. It weighs more than 31,000 lbs and is almost 10 feet in diameter.