Homemade_Chakalaka (1)

Five Popular Traditional Foods From South Africa

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

boerewors-south-african-sausage-2This 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

Homemade_Chakalaka (1)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.