“Disrespecting Pap”: Woman Turns Pap Into Fries in Viral Video, Leaving South Africans Stressed

• A local woman shared a creative solution to running out of fries by turning stiff pap into fry-like strips and deep-frying them
• The lady revealed why she turned her pap into fries, and her unconventional recipe has sparked mixed reactions online
• The video went viral on social media, with many users jokingly criticising the idea while others admired the woman's quick thinking and culinary creativity

Bathong! Pap is again at the front after a local woman has left Mzansi, both stressed and amused after revealing her unconventional solution to running out of fries, and she sure made a plan, which she showcased in a video.

The woman who goes by the Facebook handle Happy Ness shared how she improvised when she realised she didn’t have any frozen fries to serve her visitors.

Woman shows off her pap fries recipe

Determined not to disappoint, she whipped up a batch of stiff pap in a pot, added a bit of cooking oil, then carefully cut the cooked pap into fry-like strips before deep-frying them until golden and crispy.

Read also

"Sisterhood is proud": Food delivery woman returns to work after embarrassing setback, SA celebrates

The result? What looked like a regular plate of fries, except they were secretly made of maize meal. She proudly shared that her visitors happily munched on the “fries” without suspecting a thing.

“They had no idea they were eating pap fries,” she said in the clip.

Happy Ness's video, which was posted on 27 July 2025 on Facebook, has sparked mixed reactions online and with pap being a staple in many South African households, it is usually served as a soft or stiff porridge with meat or chakalaka. However, turning it into deep-fried fries has left social media users divided. Some praised her creativity and resourcefulness, while others expressed concern over how far people are willing to stretch traditional recipes.

While the technique may not be for everyone, one thing is clear, Happy Ness’s quick thinking sparked a national conversation on food improvisation and the ever-growing trend of kitchen hacks.

Read also

“Yho, guys, stop abusing pap": Young man’s pap cake leaves South Africans stressed in viral video

Whether genius or just plain outrageous, pap fries have officially entered Mzansi’s culinary spotlight.

Take a look at the woman turning pap into fries in the video below:

SA has mixed reactions to the pap fries

People in South Africa shared their take on the woman turning pap into fries as they flooded the comments section, saying:

Lebogang Mgabadeli said:

"You stress me out every day."

Ke Sharp Ka VibemySister added:

"You have committed many crimes when it comes to food."

Gwen Olebogeng Kay expressed:

"You're banned from SA. What is this."

FrweshMint Makunga wrote:

"You fed your visitors your pap fries, ohh Jehovah."

Sarah Chilunga expressed:

"I must say your pap recipes went to the most posh college."

Patience Makokwe stated:

"A proper explanation of Nonsense."

Ruramai Sithole commented:

"People have been disrespecting pap lately. 1. I have seen pap with cheese. 2. I have seen purple pap (mixed with Beetroot) 3. Now, pap fries. #justice for pap."

Read also

"It's giving Fear Factor vibes": Man's plate features fried rats at an African event, SA stunned

More on pap stories, Briefly News

• A university student has sparked mixed reactions across Mzansi after sharing a TikTok video showing an unusual take on a beloved South African staple, pap.
• A self-proclaimed “Pap Rights” activist has Mzansi in stitches after releasing a hilarious video calling for the end of what he describes as the “abuse of pap."
• A Johannesburg woman who combined spaghetti with amasi, dividing the internet with her controversial pasta creation that included ground ginger and cheese.

Source: Briefly News