Spiced Maize Porridge with Coconut Milk and Palm Sugar

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-25 · Updated 2026-06-25

A creamy, warming maize porridge sweetened with palm sugar and enriched with coconut milk, seasoned with warming spices for a comforting Cameroonian breakfast. This African-inspired recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, combines cornmeal (maize flour), water, coconut milk into a breakfast that fuels the morning without the midday crash — make-ahead-friendly and balanced enough to anchor the first meal of the day. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it sits comfortably in a weekly breakfast rotation alongside fruit, yogurt, or coffee. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal (maize flour)
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/3 cup palm sugar or brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a gentle boil. Slowly whisk in 1 cup cornmeal to prevent lumps.
2. Step 2: Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, for about 15 minutes until the porridge thickens and the cornmeal softens.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 cup coconut milk, 1/3 cup palm sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp salt. Continue to simmer for 5 more minutes until creamy and sweet.
4. Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract for a fragrant finish.
5. Step 5: Serve warm, optionally topped with toasted coconut flakes or chopped nuts for texture.