Samp and Beans (Umngqusho)

Samp and beans, known as umngqusho in isiXhosa, is a true South African staple: cracked dried corn and sugar beans simmered together for hours until soft and creamy. It was the favorite dish of Nelson Mandela, who asked for it at the prison on Robben Island, and it has fed families across the country for generations. Humble ingredients, patient cooking, and a deep, nutty comfort are the whole recipe.

Slow-simmered, creamy, and quietly magnificent

The corn and beans melt into each other as they cook, the beans giving up their creaminess to make a thick, porridge-like pot with a gentle sweet-corn flavor. Onion, butter, and a whisper of curry lift it without stealing the honest taste of the grains. Eat it as a side with braised meat, or on its own with a knob of butter and a sprinkle of salt.

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