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4 SIDE DISHES TO UPGRADE YOUR MENU MAKE YOUR SIDE DISH THE STAR DISH! WE LIST 4 OF THE BEST RECIPES OF SALADS AND SIDE DISHES TO SELL AT YOUR TAVERN.

By Heather Clancy

Complement your menu’s main meals with this mix of classic and creative side dishes. Think chakalaka, maize bread, old fashioned slap chips and potato salad with a twist! Easy to prepare, tasty and cost-effective – these side dishes tick all the boxes. Easily interchangeable and open to variation, earn ready rave reviews and empty plates!

BENNY’S CHAKALAKA A South African classic that upgrades any meal. Recipe by MasterChef SA judge Benny Masekwameng (www.timeslive.co.za)

Ingredients:

• 45ml (3 tbsp) oil • 1 onion, chopped • 1 carrot, grated • 2 hot chillies, chopped • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped • 15ml - 30ml (1 - 2 tbsp) curry powder, depending on your taste • 3 tomatoes, grated • 1 x 420g can baked beans in tomato sauce • Salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

•Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion, carrot, chillies, garlic and curry powder for about 5 minutes or until onion is soft, stirring frequently. •Stir in the tomatoes and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. •Stir in the baked beans, season and stir to heat through. Serve hot or cold.

Chef’s tips:

•Baked beans are a common addition to chakalaka; they make it a full meal when paired with mealie pap. •Other possible additions include minced fresh ginger (added with the onions), chopped peppers, shredded cabbage or chopped cauliflower (added after the tomatoes and simmered until cooked), and chopped coriander (stirred in at the end).

MAIZE BREAD Everyone has their favourite pap recipe, but why not get creative with maize meal with this hearty and wholesome recipe.

Recipe source: www.ukuva-iafrica.com

Ingredients:

• 500ml cake flour • 10ml baking powder • 5ml salt • 125ml fine maize meal • 340g can of whole kernel corn (drained) • 3 eggs • 175ml double cream yoghurt

Method:

• Preheat oven to 200°C. Generously butter a small loaf tin - the inside of the tin must look properly smeared with butter - not just slightly shiny. (This ensures a crust of incomparable deliciousness!) • Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Mix in the maize meal and corn kernels. Beat the eggs and yoghurt together, stir into the flour mixture and pour into the tin. • Bake for 75 minutes until a skewer comes out clean and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. • Turn out onto a wire rack to cool. • Serve with real butter.

Chef’s tips:

• This bread is best enjoyed fresh and tastes even better when served with saucy dishes. • Feel free to get creative! Add dried herbs or chilli flakes for a flavour burst.

BEST-EVER POTATO SALAD There are countless variations of this classic side dish, but this one claims to be the “best-ever”. Recipe by The Star’s Angela Day (www.angeladay.co.za)

Ingredients:

• 1kg potatoes • 250g bacon, diced • 125ml chopped gherkins • 1 small red onion, finely diced • 2 stalks of celery, sliced • 30ml fresh dill, chopped • 250ml creamy mayonnaise • 125ml Greek yoghurt • 10ml wholegrain mustard • 15ml lemon juice • Salt and pepper

Method:

• Place the unpeeled potatoes in salted water and boil for 20-30 minutes until tender. • Remove, drain and cool before peeling. • Cut into cubes and place in a bowl. • Fry the bacon until just crisp. • Drain on absorbent paper and add to the potatoes with the gherkins, onion, celery and dill. • Mix together the mayonnaise, yoghurt, mustard and lemon juice. • Pour over the potatoes and mix to combine. • Season with salt and pepper.

Chef’s tip:

• Potato salad is a crowd-pleaser and is a great choice when catering for large numbers. • Omit the bacon and add chopped fresh herbs for a vegetarian option.

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Sustainability, trust and reliability, these are the driving factors behind all our service offerings. We at F. Dawood and Son aim to provide affordable, quality chicken for all types of enterprises. To us, no client is too big or too small, we guarantee 100 percent commitment, dedication and satisfaction every step of the way. Furthermore, we firmly believe that profit is not a driver but a result of our continuous desire to provide nothing but the highest standard of quality possible. Ultimately, we aim to generate a product presence which leaves a lasting impact, in the process positioning both our brand and our clients as market leaders.