The following highlights some of the popular Traditional South African Foods. If you manage to be in an South African restaurant or you are visiting South Africa, I recommend the following
1. Bunny Chow
The bunny chow is one of the exponents of the gastronomy of the country of South Africa that, of course, has nothing to do with a rabbit. Its ingredients are all vegetables: onion, ginger, curry and potato are some of them. It also contains carrot, bell pepper and turmeric chili. It is a simple dish much in demand in the suburbs of Durban. It became popular in the 1940s, and does not need to be eaten with cutlery, which in turn makes it another of South Africa’s street foods.
2. Bobotie
The bobotie is prepared with minced beef or lamb, seasoned with curry, ginger and onion. Other ingredients that make this recipe very special are almonds, grated coconut and egg. Similar to moussaka, it is one of the best known examples of Cape Malay food and is widely regarded as a national dish of South Africa.
3. Amarula Don Pedro
Amarula is one of the most outstanding traditional South African beverages, made from the fruit of the maruleira tree. The ingredients to prepare it as a liqueur are the fruit of the marula tree, sugar and cream. After the fermentation process, it is distilled in copper stills and aged for two years in oak barrels, and finally mixed with cream. It is very creamy on the palate, which is where you will feel the flavor of the marula.
4. Cape Malay Curry
This curry dish is perhaps one of the tastiest and most popular examples of the Cape Malay influence on South African food. It refers to a type of South African curry made with meat (often lamb or chicken) cooked with garlic, ginger, onion, tomato, potatoes and a host of spices such as cumin, coriander, turmeric and masala powder. It is usually served with rice and eaten without utensils.
5. Chakalaka & Pap
Chakalaka is a somewhat spicy vegetarian stew that uses very few ingredients. It is commonly served with pap (the South African equivalent of Kenya or Tanzania ugali, a staple food consumed throughout Africa. Pap refers to a type of fluffy porridge made from cornmeal). It is ideal for a meatless Monday and extremely tasty. A complete meal with plant-based proteins provided by beans or white beans.
6. Malva Pudding
“Malva” is the African word for geranium, as the dessert was originally flavored with the leaves of this rose-scented plant. It is served with pastry cream or ice cream with a rich texture on the palate. Its secret is the technique of absorbing the hot cream after baking. In Johannesburg brandy is added and it is called Cape Brandy Pudding.
7. Melktert
Refers to a classic South African custard dessert made with milk, flour, sugar and eggs. Topped with a sweet puff pastry dough and often sprinkled with cinnamon powder, it is similar to a Portuguese egg tart, except that it is lighter and has a more pronounced milky flavor. It is a common sight in South African supermarkets and is perhaps the closest thing South Africa has to a national dessert cake. Eat it warm or cold. It is delicious either way.
8. Boerewors
Boerewors refers to a South African sausage that is popular in the cuisines of southern African countries. It is made with coarsely chopped beef and a host of different spices such as coriander seeds, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and black pepper. Traditionally made in a spiral shape, boerewors are often braised (grilled), although they can also be cooked in other ways.
9. Shisa Nyama
In Zulu, it literally means grilled meat, a term used by localities to describe a place where people prepare and serve grilled meat. Some companies will spice up their menu by adding grilled sweet corn, a tasty potato salad and some vegetables to round out the generous amount of protein on a plate. Others may offer seafood dishes such as shrimp and white fish filet.
10. Biltong & Droewors
They are the South African equivalent of U.S. beef jerky, but much better. It refers to a type of dried cured meat popular in South Africa. Cut into flat pieces or strips, it can be prepared with different types of meat such as beef, chicken, fish, ostrich and game meats such as kudu or gazelle. In South Africa, biltong is often enjoyed as a snack or used as an ingredient in many dishes such as stews, sandwiches and breads. Guests anxiously waiting for meat to cook will often eat biltong and droewors in braais.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional African Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.