Veggie ragu with cheesy pap

Perfect for veggie lovers and comfort food enthusiasts alike! We’ve put veg front-and-center in this Veggie ragu with cheesy pap for a perfect weeknight meal. Savour the rich flavours of our hearty veggie ragu, packed with a medley of fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs. 

TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes/ Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

Veggie ragu

• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 2 large brinjals, cubed
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• ¼ cup red wine
• 1×400 g can of chopped and peeled tomatoes
• 1 tbsp chopped oregano
• 1 bay leaf  
• ⅓ cup water
• 1 tsp sugar

Cheesy pap

• 4 1/2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup maize meal
• 1 tbsp butter
• ⅓ cup grated white cheddar cheese

METHOD

Veggie ragu

1. Heat up the oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Cook the brinjal until golden on all sides. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same pan, add the onions and cook until softened and translucent, about 3 minutes.
4. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
5. Add the tomato paste and brinjal. Cook for 2 minutes, then deglaze the pot with the wine; cook for 1 minute.
6. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 5 minutes.
7. Season to taste.

Cheesy pap

1. Place water in a pot and whisk in maize meal; cook until thickened and cooked through.
2. Remove from the heat and stir in butter and cheese.

To serve 

1. Spoon cheesy pap into serving bowls and top with eggplant ragu.
2. Garnish with fresh coriander if desired.

FOOD TEAM TIP: For an alcohol-free meal, use water or stock instead of red wine.

Print Recipe

Veggie ragu with cheesy pap

Serves: 4

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• Veggie ragu
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 2 large brinjals, cubed
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, miced
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• ¼ cup red wine
• 1x400 g can chopped and peeled tomatoes
• 1 tbsp chopped oregano
• 1 bay leaf  
• ⅓ cup water
• 1 tsp sugar
• Cheesy pap
• 4 1/2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup maize meal
• 1 tbsp butter
• ⅓ cup grated white cheddar cheese

Instructions

For the Veggie ragu

1

Heat up the oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook the brinjal until golden on all sides. Remove and set aside. 

2

In the same pan, add the onions and cook until softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste and brinjal. Cook for 2 minutes, then deglaze the pot with the wine; cook for 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 5 minutes. Season to taste.

For the cheesy pap

3

Place water in a pot and whisk in maize meal; cook until thickened and cooked through. Remove from the heat and stir in butter and cheese.

To serve 

4

Spoon cheesy pap into serving bowls and top with eggplant ragu. Garnish with fresh coriander if desired

Made this delicious recipe? Tag us @foodandhomesa #CookingWithFH on Instagram

ALSO SEE:  Chef nono mtshalis short rib ragu

Chef Nono Mtshali’s Short Rib Ragu

Recipes and Styling: Jezza-Rae Larsen

Photography: Chanelle Naudt

Jezza-Rae Larsen

A food stylist and recipe developer, contributing to Food & Home and other esteemed magazines under Habari Media. I love for creating mouthwatering recipes, I bring culinary visions to life through my work.