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For your next trip to this beautiful country, here’s our list of sixteen top South African foods you simply have to try.
There’s arguably not a more iconic food to start with than South African braai. Braai, simply, is the Afrikaans for barbecue or grill.
Delicious South African Foods You Must Try
But the word ‘braai’ is far more than the grilling of meat. Braais are a social event, deeply rooted in modern South African culture. Braais bring friends and families together.
Traditionally, wood is used to keep the fires burning to cook the meat. But in recent times, modern methods like charcoal fires are also used.
Literally meaning ‘fat cake’ in Afrikaans, vetkoek start out life as a fried dough cake. This doughy handful of goodness is then shaped and split along the middle.
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Many will also make them for braais. From there, you can stuff it with one of the many delicious types of meat straight off the grill.
Vetkoek are heavily influenced by the Dutch oliebol. It’s a very popular food among the poorest townships and suburbs of South Africa.
This is largely down to how simple they are to make while being very filling. Street vendors and fast food stores sell them by the truckload.
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This delicious sausage always contains plenty of beef. This is then mixed with either lamb, pork, or both, to create a rich, intense flavor.
Boerewors is also renowned for its spiraling shape and is loved by millions across South Africa in a wide range of recipes.
Incredibly, this delicious South African food is also in the record books. In 2014, the longest boerewors ever made, measuring over 5100 ft in length, officially broke the record.
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Remarkably, the dish originates back to Roman times. Ancient Roman chefs would blend and season a combination of tender meats and crunchy nuts, then top it with a layer of milk and egg.
Dried fruit is also used to garnish the top. Raisins and apricots help give a final fruity kick to this hearty South African food.
Vegetarian versions of bobotie have been cooked and gained popularity in recent decades. Lentil bobotie is a particular favorite of South Africans.
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Traditionally, a small, rounded cast iron cauldron is used. This is placed over a wood fire to cook outside for several hours.
So many delicious recipes are cooked potjiekos style. The most common include casseroles and stews, full of tender meat and a variety of vegetables.
Nothing soothes the stomach and soul on a cold evening like a hearty stew. If you visit South Africa off-season, make sure you try tomato bredie.
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This stew is also blessed with cinnamon, ginger, and chili, while beans, cardamom, and Cape water lilies all play their part in the dish’s unique taste.
This culinary delight is made by hollowing out a loaf of white bread. Once hollowed, the loaf is filled with any number of delicious curries.
It is believed Indians working in the sugar cane plantations hollowed out the loaves so that they could carry their lunch to work.
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How they’re made is fascinating. Firstly, the dough is rolled into rounded strips. The strips are then weaved together and fried in plenty of oil.
Once fried, the sizzling dough is plunged into a large volume of tinglingly cold sugar syrup and lashed with cinnamon, lemon, and ginger.
You can find these delightful treats in bakeries across South Africa. Whether for a sweet taste after dinner or a snack for the road, they’re not to be missed!
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Back in the seventeenth century, meat was preserved using vinegar and potassium nitrate. Those techniques are still used today. However, the biltong recipe has evolved through the decades.
Biltong comes in a wide range of meats. Sliced beef is common, but if you’re feeling more adventurous, native South African meats like tender kudu and ostrich can be eaten as biltong.
Pap has been filling the bellies of African families for generations. It’s a truly beloved South African food that brings back childhood memories to many South Africans.
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African farmers were able to produce much higher yields growing maize, and ultimately, it became one of the country’s most important foods.
Pap is also very simple to make. South Africans simply boil maize meal, stock, and butter to create this wholesome, fluffy porridge.
As mentioned, pap goes well with so many foods. Chakalaka chicken livers, with a spicy, chili-infused sauce, is a true South African favorite.
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In Cape Town, a ‘Gatsby’ is a legendary and monstrous sub-style sandwich residents of the Mother City simply cannot get enough of.
The sandwich was first made in the city in 1976. An owner of a recently purchased shop wanted a quick and easy way to feed his construction workers.
So, he got resourceful. He quickly cooked and stuffed some French fries, polony, and pickle into a large loaf of bread, then cut it into four.
South African Foods You Need To Try
One of the workers had recently watched the film ‘The Great Gatsby’ in the local cinema. He took his first bite and instantly fell in love.
The worker jokingly declared the sandwich was a ‘Gatsby smash’, and the shop owner started selling the sandwich once the shop opened.
Nowadays, Gatsbys come in all shapes and sizes. One of the most popular recipes pairs French fries with succulent slices of chicken, steak, or polony.
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Whether you opt for a quarter, half or foot long, a Gatsby is a South African food you simply have to try in Cape Town.
The traditional braaibroodjie recipe is a simple one. Thick slices are cut from a fresh white loaf, and the slices are loaded with cheese.
Slices of tomato and onion are added in. Chutney is smothered across each slice, and both are seasoned with salt and pepper.
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South Africans recommend braaing the sandwich over mild coals. Once the cheese melts and the bread is a crisp golden brown, you are good to go.
South Africans also enjoy a breakfast version. This involves plying open the delicious slices after cooking and sliding in a fried egg.
If you’re invited to any braai, be sure to get your hands on one of these mouthwatering sandwiches. A truly wonderful South African food.
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The key to the most sumptuous of sosaties is all in the preparation. First, a marinade of chilies, curry leaves, garlic, tamarind juice, and onions is made.
Tender cuts of South African lamb are cubed and then placed in the marinade. The marinade is left to sit overnight to maximize the flavor.
When it’s time to cook, sosaties can be fried or grilled. But, as with all South African meat dishes, braaing them takes the flavor to a whole new level.
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Jam is added to a creamed base of flour, soda, milk, butter, eggs, and salt. The pudding is poured into a dish and baked until browned.
Served with some ice-cold ice cream or thick custard, it’s a wondrous sweet treat that South Africans across the country love to enjoy.
Another South African dessert that brings friends and families together, the melktart has a melt-worthy pastry crust and a moreish custard filling.
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The dessert has evolved from the Dutch mattentaart. This cheesecake-like treat was brought to the country by the Dutch in the seventeenth century.
Fused with alluring flavors like cinnamon and almond, a slice of melktart is a perfect dessert to follow and evening of braaied meat.
A true gem in the crown of South African foods, one bite of peppermint crisp tart releases an explosion of incredible flavors.
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This is largely down to the way the tart is assembled. Many layers of goodness make up the classic peppermint crisp tart recipe.
The peppermint crisp tart is similar to a trifle. It’s always served cold, and it is magic to the tongue after a day out in the sun.
It’s loved by both children and adults throughout the country. Small, but packing a wonderful fusion of flavors, keep an eye out for this treat in bakeries or at braais.
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To many foodies, South African cuisine is largely unexplored. I’ll admit that, when visiting South Africa, food was not as high on my agenda as the outdoor activities.
But even more so, the culture of food is one of togetherness. From local braais to gourmet restaurants on the Cape, food is a huge part of South African life.
Want to try some of these scrumptious South African foods when you next visit? Save this article to one of your Pinterest boards. That way, you’ll always have access to these foodie delights!
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I lived in Southern/Central Africa for 3 years and I remember lots of these yummy foods. I learned to make great curries there from an Indian colleague.If you’re interested in trying some new, delicious foods from South Africa, then you’ve come to the right place! Here are some of the top South African recipes that are sure to become favorites with you and your family members – they’re always tasty, filling, and of course completely authentic.
From boerewors (braai sticks) to melktert (milk tart), here are 18 great recipes that should definitely be on your list of must-try dishes.
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