South Africa is packed with rich,
delicious cuisine that has been greatly influenced not only by the
indigenous population but also from the French, Malaysians, Indians and
Dutch this provides an exciting and vibrant cuisine that is sure to
excite even the most cultured palate.
From delicious barbecued food,
custard filled pastries and creamy liqueurs, South African cuisine is
definitely worth experiencing.
Here are five traditional South African dishes that anyone living or visiting the area should try out:
1. Boerewors
This
is a very popular sausage dish in South Africa, it consists of either
seasoned pork or beef that has been coarsely minced, there are times
that it is made of minced lamb or perhaps a combination of both. It is
full of spices such as black pepper, cloves, toasted coriander seeds,
nutmeg and allspice. This will usually prepared outdoors grilled is the
preferred cooking choice but many times it can be grilled on an electric
grill or perhaps baked in an oven.2. Potjiekos
This popular and traditional food from
South Africa is a meat and vegetable based dish of the Boers, it is
similar to a stew but it is far from it, it is not even prepared the
same way as a stew is. It is cooked slowly in a cast iron pan over hot
coals and is a fairly easy dish to prepare, even for someone who is not
an expert.
3. Vetkoek
This dough is deep fried in vegetable
oil, it is then stuffed with cooked ground beef, it can also be spread
honey, syrup and jam. Jam and cheese make a great combination for this
crispy on the outside and warm and fluffy on the inside traditional
South African pastry. This traditional dish can be considered a dessert.
4. Mealie
This maize meal is generally served on
the cob or turned into a delicious beer. This is a staple part of South
African cuisine, it is also very inexpensive to make which is ideal for
those living within a budget. This can be a sweet or savory dish, it can
be made for breakfast as a sweet porridge or dinner served with meat
and tomato sauce.
5. Chakalaka
This
is traditional South African dish is a great way to be creative, it is
classically a relish consisting of carrots, tomatoes, chiles, baked
beans and hot curry powder. It is a staple that accompanies almost every
South African meal. This can be combined with a variety of vegetables,
creativity is key. It is however a must have dish with any barbecue.
These are just five of the very popular
dishes that can be found in South Africa. It is however a country rich
in food culture, there are so many dishes to try and many times a dish
can be made in a variety of ways so one dish can be enjoyed in multiple
forms. If you are visiting South Africa do not leave without taking some
time to sample this delicious cuisine, I guarantee you will not leave
disappointed.
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