Method:

1. To make the smoor, fry the onions in olive oil in a medium-sized pan until slightly browned and softened. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
2. Add tomato paste and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, sugar, spices and herbs and simmer for approximately 10-15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. In a large saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a rapid boil. Add half the maize meal and stir until well combined, reduce the heat and cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Stir until smooth, then gradually add the remaining maize meal and stir vigorously until smooth.
5. Reduce the heat to low and allow the pap to steam for 10-15 minutes.
6. Stir vigorously once again until the pap is smooth.
7. Transfer pap into a cling wrap-lined baking dish, smoothing out the top.
8. Allow to set for 45 minutes - 1 hour.
9. Once cooled, slice the pap into fingers and pan-fry until golden brown.
10. Cook Southern Style Crumbed Chicken Thighs from frozen at 180°C in the airfryer for 10-14 minutes or 12-15 minutes in the oven at 180°C. Turn the chicken halfway through the cooking time. Once the chicken is cooked, rest for 1-2 minutes.
11. Serve Southern Style Crumbed Chicken thighs with the fried pap fingers and smoor.