South Africa is known for stunning wildlife, breath-taking scenery, vibrant cities, powder sand beaches and of course, luxury holidays.
However South Africa is also becoming known for another reason, its cuisine… now before thoughts turn to Biltong and Castle lager it’s important to mention that there is much more to South African dining than beer and dried meat (although we are partial to a bit of Biltong!)
Here we take a look at some South African delicacies you must try when visiting the Rainbow Nation.
Bunny Chow
Far more bunny friendly than the name suggests Bunny Chow is a simple yet delicious dish that originated in the Indian communities of Durban.
Bunny Chow started as a vegetarian dish however meat and fish versions are now available. Bunny Chow consists of curry served in a hollowed out loaf of bread and served with a side of white rice along with grated carrot, chilli and onion salad.
Traditionally the dish is served in yesterday’s newspapers and eaten using only the hands, in fact it is very rare you will see a local use any sort of cutlery when eating Bunny Chow.
Boerewors
A traditional South African sausage Boerewors is made from minced beef and seasoned with an assortment of flavours including black pepper, nutmeg and nutmeg. Boerewors is traditionally served with pap, a South African porridge similar to Pollenta.
As with many South African foods the cooking style and therefore taste of Boerewors vary from region to region, and, whilst traditionally, grilled outside, electric grills can also be used to prepare the meat.
Chakalaka
This simple dish consists of a vegetable relish made using basic ingredients such as baked beans, tomatoes and onion garlic. The relish is then served with bread or alongside stews or curries.
It is unknown exactly where Chakalaka originated from however it is believed the dish was first served in the townships of Johannesburg.
Grilled Game
Something you are likely to encounter whilst on holiday in South Africa is grilled game; simply put this will consist of farm raised game that is native to the local region. Specific examples include Crocodile, Ostrich and Antelope which is then grilled or stewed with spices added to increase flavour.
Biltong
We couldn’t complete our list without giving mention to one of South Africa’s most famed exports; Biltong can be made using a range of different meats however beef is more regularly used. The meat is cut into strips, spiced and dried before being cut into smaller pieces and served, normally as a snack
(however it can also be added to curry’s and stews).
Bizarrely Biltong has been known as an effective teething aid for babies, this has led to some South African stores serving spice free Biltong.
Featured images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
To plan your visit to South Africa speak to Wanderforth.