Our traditional method for preparing corn starch pudding known as akamu or pap in Nigeria.

Introduction

Corn Starch Pudding (Akamu/Pap) is a common food known among Nigerians and Africans that makes us strong and energetic. This Corn Starch is an extract derived from a wide range of corn and cereals ranging from maize, millet, sorghum (guinea corn).

What we need for the processing

• Corn
• Water
• Milling device
• Sieve / strainer
• containers

How we extract the corn starch

Stage1
Get a your well dried corn, yellow or white. In this demonstration, I am using yellow corn which we believe has a lot more nutrients and a beautiful colour.

• Wash the corn and remove dust, stones and other unwanted materials.

Stage 2
Soak in cold or warm water. The corn is soaked to initialize a fermentation process. The maximum duration for soaking should be 4 (four) days.

Stage 3
Wash and grind the soaked corn. Traditionally, we would use a mortar and pestle or a grinding stone. This days, when the quantity is large, we use the milling machine to grind the corn in to a pulp.

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Stage 4
Sieve to extract the starch. This you can do using a muslin like sieve or bag which helps separate the Chaffs from the corn starch content which is the pap/akamu

Stage 5
Allow the sieved content to settle. This will place the corn starch at the bottom and the water on top. Pour out the water from the corn starch.
Having drained the water, you can store the pap under fresh water. Which will require that you change the water every day. Modern methods involves saving in a refrigerator.

Stage 6
Getting it ready for serving

• Scoop out some of the raw pap
• Dilute in cold water to have a thick consistency
• Boil some water to 100°C
• Pour the hot water into the diluted pap and keep steering as you pour
• Continue the process of pouring and steering till the starch content thickens
• Your pap is ready
• the inviting colour which could be white, yellow, brown all depends on the corn you used

Stage 7

• You may add Suger for sweetness
• Your akamu is good to go with either Bread, Akara or Beand,
• it makes real good breakfast for most Nigerians.

Health Benefits of Akamu

[a]. It is very rich in Vitamins (B1,B2_B3, and B5. Protein, Iron, Zinc and calcium for immune boost, mental development and health of children and nursing mother.

[b].Good meal for Lactating Mother and Breastfeeding.

[c]. Helps to cure Anamia especially in Lactating Mothers and Children as a result of iron contained in sorghurm.

[d].it is helpful in controlling obesity and improve digestion.

[e].Increase libido and enhanced fertility in Men.

[f]. A big source of earning income. It is huge business oportunity in Nigeria becouse the demand is quite high.

[g]. The Chaffs can be used as animal feeds.