Aim: The Ministry of Health in Malawi has scaled‐up antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection. However, the majority of Malawians heavily depend on maize‐based stiff porridge (nsima), a protein‐deficient staple, a practice that exacerbates wasting and ultimately compromises the success of ART programming. This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of utilising soybean‐enriched nsima as a strategy for managing HIV‐related wasting among resource‐poor people. Methods: A before and after designed study involving 25 wasted (<18.5 BMI (body mass index)) to normal (18.5–24.9 BMI) HIV‐positive rural women (21–40 years) taking ART and provided with soybean–maize flour (20 kg/month for 3 months) prepared from hydrothermally treated soybeans and maize in the ratio of 1:4 (wt/wt). Anthropometry was performed at baseline and every month for the 3‐month study period. Paired sample t‐tests were used to test for changes in body mass and BMI between baseline and the subsequent months. Results: Statistically significant (P < 0.001) cumulative mean weight gain for the first, second and third month of the study were 1.6, 2.1 and 2.9 kg, respectively. The number of participants with low BMI reduced from 6/25 at baseline to 2/25 after 3 months, and the mean BMI improved from 19.3 to 21.1 kg/m2. Conclusions: Nsima prepared from a blend of maize and hydrothermally treated soybeans could feasibly be used to prevent and manage wasting among resource‐poor people living with HIV/AIDS in sub‐Saharan Africa who rely on maize as a major staple.