IOL
FOOD Issue 5 | September 2020
Heritage The South African Cuisine Edition
Local is Lekker
TRADITIONAL MEALS
DEEP–FRIED TREATS
YUMMY... SNACKS
Editor’s Note SEPTEMBER has become one of my favourite months. Besides it being a new season, it’s a month that allows us to celebrate South African cuisine. I do have a gripe, though, with Heritage Day being rebranded Braai Day. There’s more to South African cuisine than braai. A few years ago, I interviewed Nompumelelo Mqwebu about her book, Through the Eyes of an African Chef. She said there was a lack of knowledge about the history and development of our cuisine. “The wealth of knowledge needs to be passed on to educate us and generations to come. We have so much to celebrate through our food and share proudly with the world.” And this is what we have done in this edition. It’s a celebration of our cuisine – from township specials to desserts and braais. Want to make your own sorghum beer or gemere? We show you how. It’s an issue I like to think could be a collector’s item. It’s one you’ll keep coming back to and will, hopefully, encourage you to try out the food of other cultures. I hope you will enjoy it. Let’s Get Cooking!
CONTACT US PUBLISHER | Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha@africannewsagency.com
ULTIMATE BRAAI GUIDE
DESSERTS TO DIE FOR!
TOWNSHIP STYLE...
FOOD EDITOR | Buhle Mbonambi buhle.mbonambi@inl.co.za EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR | Nelandri Narianan nelandri.narianan@inl.co.za PRODUCTION | Renata Ford renata.ford@inl.co.za DESIGN | Mallory Munien mallory.munien@inl.co.za BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT | Keshni Odayan keshni.odayan@inl.co.za
HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICAN SALADS
THE BEST TRADITIONAL BREW!
LOCALLY DISTILLED GIN AND VODKA
SALES Charl Reineke | charl@africannewsagency.com Kyle Villet | kyle.villet@africannewsagency.com GENERAL ENQUIRIES | info@anapublishing.com
South African food sings with flavour... BY BUHLE MBONAMBI I HATE the term “Rainbow Nation”, but when it comes to our food, we certainly are. And what I love is how passionate we are about it. We fight over amasi (maas and phuthu) and whether you should have it with sugar or not. We argue about the shape of vetkoek and whether it should be square or round. We can never settle on the difference between dombolo and jeqe, while we are quick to speak out when mealie meal takes too long to cook, which is not an unusual occurence. We get mad when people try to gentrify gatsbys,
while we are always making sure to remind people that Kota and S’pahlo may look similar, but they are not the same. Have I forgotten about atchaar, white liver, chicken feet and tripe? What about our famous potjiekos, melkkos, ting, isjingi, boerewors rolls, inhloko (cow lip) and, of course, our favourite condiment (even though I don’t like it) Mrs Ball’s chutney. When Gordon Ramsay was here in December, he was most impressed by the melting pot of culture and how it impacts our food. But he made sure, with the help of Zola
Nene, to pair back our food and try go to the beginning and how we like eating and cooking our cuisine. I am excited by how our chefs are in demand overseas, because it is a chance to introduce elements of South African cuisine in those restaurants. Jan Hendrik has done it so well in his Nice restaurant JAN, by introducing South African food in his menu. All we have to do now, is to fully embrace how great our food is. It may not be as possible or as elegant as Western cuisine, but you can never touch us on our flavours.
Our favourite traditional food BY BUHLE MBONAMBI
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There was a time when the sight of ox tripe disgusted me. The first time I tasted it, it felt like I was eating a towel. I spat it out and everyone around me laughed. But that was almost 30 years ago. I’m now obsessed with usu/ulusu/ mogodu/tripe, and I don’t need an excuse to have it.
Chef Lungi Nhlanhla’s Tripe Stew (Serves 6) Ingredients: 1kg cleaned sheep tripe 4 cups of water Stock cubes 1 tablespoon white pepper 1 tablespoon salt Methods: Rinse and ensure the tripe is clean and then cut it into pieces. Place tripe in a pot and add water to cover. Add stock cubes Bring the water to the boil. Once boiled, reduce the heat to low and simmer with a half open lid for the remainder of cooking. Keep tasting the softness of your tripe until tender. For a thicker sauce, remove the lid and increase the heat to reduce the liquid. Season with pepper and salt, five minutes before cooking process ends. Enjoy with dumpling, pap, samp or bread.
| Chef Lungile Nhlanhla
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MIELIE RICE WITH DRIED FISH CHUTNEY AND BOILED EGGS By Debashine Thangevelo The one dish, I absolutely loved - and still do - is my mom’s mielie rice with dried fish chutney. Indians love throwing in boiled eggs to augment dishes like this. And my mom would do just that when preparing this meal. The mielie rice can be cooked as is or spiced up with a bit of turmeric
Samp with beans By Lutho Pasiya I love umngqusho (samp and beans). This is a traditional Xhosa dish loved by many South Africans. Umngqusho can be eaten on its own, mixed with vegetables, mashed potatoes, or any kind of stew or gravy. I love that this meal goes a long way and is just so comforting. There are several ways to prepare and serve umngqusho. I prefer having this dish with ulusu (tripe), a delicacy usually cooked like stew
8 tomatoes, 6 green chilies ¼ tsp turmeric powder 1 small piece dried fish 1tsp ginger garlic paste 3 boiled eggs Some curry leaves Dhania (coriander) Preparing the Kitcheri: In a pot add 1 tablespoon of oil and allow it to heat up. Add the following thereafter: 3 dry chillies, 3 cinnamon sticks, 1 sliced onion, ½ teaspoon mustard seeds, ½ teaspoon jeera, 1 cut tomato Let it braise for a while then add curry leaf and boiled dhall. Wash mealie rice and add to the above dhall mixture. Let it boil until it’s a little soft then remove from the stove.
for colour. And the chutney, which is generally very spicy, is accompanied by pieces of salted dried fish, the dish is topped off with boiled eggs (halved) and garnished with freshly chopped coriander. Ingredients: ½ cup boiled pea dhall, 1 cup mealie rice, 1tblsp oil 3 dry chillies, 2 onions 3 cinnamon sticks ½ tsp mustard seeds, ½ tsp jeera
and I sometimes add chillies to give it a kick. Ingredients: Samp, well rinsed Sugar beans, cleaned and well rinsed Stock cubes, Salt, to taste Oil, 1 onion, cut in small pieces Potatoes, cut in pieces Carrots, cut in pieces Method: Place the samp in a pot, cover with water and bring to the boil and allow to simmer, allowing most of the water to evaporate. When the samp is
Preparing the Dried fish Chutney with Boiled Egg: Soak the dried fish in hot water to remove excess salt. In a pot, add a little oil and fry the dried fish until it browns a little. Add 1 onion & 6 green chilies. Allow it to fry for a bit until it browns a little. Add ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder. Add 8 sliced tomato and a 1 teaspoon of ginger & garlic paste. Let it cook for a while until the tomatoes are melted. Thereafter add the curry leaves and dhania. Add 3 boiled eggs to the chutney. | Recipe: Passing It On
about to get cooked or when the water has almost sunk, add the sugar beans and more water. Add salt. Reduce the heat and cook until soft. Note: You have to keep checking to see that the mixture is not sticking to the bottom of the pot and add water if necessary. While the samp and beans cook, sauté the onion in a little oil. Add the potatoes, carrots, and stock cubes and allow to simmer until the potatoes and carrots are slightly soft. Drain the slightly soft samp and beans and add to the mixture.
Want something deep fried? Try these delicious fried recipes, they pair well with any dish
Amagwinya/Vetkoek Vetkoek, literally meaning fat cake, is one of the most loved traditional dishes in South Africa. Vetkoek is something that’s very popular in the townships.
Usually served with polony and cheese Ingredients: Half packet of instant dry yeast Half a cup of white sugar 3 cups of sieved baking flour A pinch of salt Sunflower oil to fry the dough 500ml lukewarm water
Method: Put yeast in half a cup of lukewarm water and add a pinch of sugar to help activate the yeast. Incorporate all dry ingredients in a big bowl. Once the yeast is building, pour into dry ingredients and mix. While kneading add the water sparingly until the dough is sufficiently. Cover and leave in a warm place until the dough doubles in volume. Proceed with frying the dough until golden brown. Serve warm...
Koeksisters (Serves 4-6) Ingredients: For the dough: 2 cups cake flour 2 tablespoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 large egg 4 tablespoons butter/margarine 150ml of water/ milk mixture Oil for deep frying For the syrup: 500g sugar 2 cinnamon sticks 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1½ cups of water juice of one lemon Method Syrup: Prepare the syrup a day ahead (it needs to be very cold). Dissolve sugar in the water. Add the spices and lemon juice to this and boil together until thick about 25-30minutes. Leave the syrup in the fridge overnight. Dough: Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together. Rub in the butter to resemble fine bread crumbs. Add the milk mixture in the flour and egg mixture and try to form dough. Make sure to add little bits of water if the dough appears too dry or you can also add more flour if it is too sticky.
Work the dough well. If the dough appears to be lumpy and sticky, continue to work the dough until it makes a ball. Let the dough rest at room temperature for about two to three hours in an airtight container. To prepare the koeksisters: Roll out the dough (thickness 5mm). Cut the dough into strips of 6cm long, 2cm wide. Cut each of these strips into three strips (not all the way through, leave the strips connected at the top). Plate each strip, pinch together at the end of the strip. Deep fry until golden brown. Remove and drain quickly – dip the hot koeksisters in the cold syrup (that was stored in the fridge up to now). The secret is to keep the syrup cold and the koeksisters hot, this way it will draw just the right amount of syrup. You can keep the syrup cold by placing the syrup bowl in another container filled with iced water or ice cubes.
Fried Koesisters Ingredients: Dough: 4½ cups cake flour 1 cup lukewarm water ½ cup lukewarm milk 1 tsp baking powder 1 sachet instant yeast (10g) 2 tbs caster sugar 3 tbs butter (melted) 1 tsp salt zest of 1 naartjie (optional) 1 tbs fine ginger 1-2 tsp mix spice (optional) 2 tbs aniseed 2 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp freshly ground cardamon seeds 2 eggs Ingredients for syrup 3 cups sugar 2 cups water 1 cinnamon stick 2 naartjie peels (optional) Oil for deep frying Desiccated coconut for coating
Method: Mix all ingredients until a sticky dough is formed. The dough must be very soft. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes using a little oil on your hands to stop it from sticking. Rub some oil over the dough, cover it with a cloth and allow to rise for an hour, or to double in size. Roll out into little balls and fry in oil on medium to high heat until brown. Sprinkle with sugar and cover in desiccated coconut. Sugar syrup: Boil the sugar with 2 cups of water and a few cinnamon sticks, on medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes. Add naartjie peel if desired. Allow the syrup to simmer while dipping the koesisters into it and letting them soak for a minute before removing. Hint: If dough isn’t soft and sticky, it won’t rise well and the koesisters won’t be light.
Yummy... local snacks South African cuisine reflects the diverse range of culinary traditions embodied by the various communities that inhabit the country. Here is our pick of the tastiest local snacks... NELANDRI NARIANAN, LUTHO PASIYA & MEGAN BAADJIES
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WARME WORSIE SMOORTJIE
This Cape Town favourite is also known as “Penny polonies” or, as my mom used to say, “Oulap- worsies”, which meant it cost a penny or one cent. A very cheap staple that to this day is a go-to quick meal. Ingredients 45 ml (3 T) oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped Salt and pepper to taste 2 fresh chillies, chopped 60 ml (¼ C) tomato paste 30 ml (2 T) sugar 800 g warme worsies (Penny polonies), Method Heat the oil in a large pot on medium heat, then fry the onion until golden brown. Add a little water to the pot and braise for 10 minutes. Next, add the rest of the ingredients, except the warme worsies, and braise for another 10 minutes. Add the warme worsies and some more water and cook for about 15 minutes. Serve with bread and butter.
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SWEET CHILLI LEMON MASONJA (MOPANE WORMS) SERVES 3
There are several ways to prepare mopane worms and here’s a modern twist. The lemon heightens the flavour in the dish. Ingredients: 150g mopane worms 3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 30ml fresh lemon juice salt to taste a little oil for frying Method: Put your mopane worms into a bowl. Add boiling water to re-hydrate them. Let them soak for 5 min. Drain the water. Heat oil in pan. Add the mopane worm and fry for about 10 min, stirring regularly. De-glaze the pan with a little lemon juice at a time. Add the sweet chilli sauce and some salt. Fry for a further 10 min, serve.
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VEDDAH
This is a traditional Indian savoury split pea (dhall) snack.
Ingredients: 500ml split peas (soaked in water overnight) 3 red dried chillies (soaked with the split pea) 3 finely chopped green chillies ½ a cup of chopped coriander 5ml each of roasted cumin and coriander seeds (fry the seeds in a pan for a minute without oil) 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon mixed ginger and garlic paste 1 medium sized onion diced finely 2 sprigs of sliced spring onion ¼ levelled teaspoon of baking powder Oil for deep frying
Method: Grind the cumin and fennel seeds together to form a powder. Drain the water from the split pea and red chilli. Blend together the split peas and red chilli in a food processor until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. The mixture can be emptied into a bowl. Add in the green chilli, salt, cumin and fennel powder, ginger and garlic paste, onion, spring onion, coriander and baking powder. Place a tablespoon of the mixture into the palm of your hand and pat it flat. It should be round, smaller than your palm and about 5mm in thickness. You make a hole in the centre with your finger. Fry in hot oil until reddish brown in colour. The mixture is loose and crumbly, take care when placing it in the oil. Turn the veddah once over during cooking and place onto an absorbent paper towel to drain access oil.
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INDIAN DOUGHNUT GOOL GOOLAS
Gool Goolas is something every Indian child grew up eating. It’s a South African Indian dessert or snack and uses very few ingredients to make this fried sweet batter. Ingredients: 2 cups cake flour 1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 2 level teaspoons baking powder 4 tablespoons castor sugar 2 pinches cardamom powder 2 pinches salt 1 cup milk + additional 3 or 4 tablespoons separate 350ml oil for frying Method: Before preparing the batter, heat oil in a heavy based pan on medium to low heat. Sift the dry ingredients together – add sugar, cardamom powder and salt. Add milk and mix until a thick batter forms. Add remaining 4 – 5 tablespoons of milk until the batter resembles a scoopable batter – somewhat soft but never runny. Drop the batter into the oil and fry for 5-7 minutes. The Gool Goolas should become round, then pop to the surface. Turn every minute or until it is evenly browned. Gool Goolas should have a soft bread like texture. After frying, place on paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve warm or cold or store in airtight containers.
The best of local township cuisine NATHAN ADAMS & LUTHO PASIYA
1 Mutton Curry Bunny Chow The bunny chow represents the fabric of South Africa’s rich and colourful heritage. You can leave out the meat if you are vegetarian. Ingredients: 400ml cooking oil 500g onions, finely chopped 40g fresh ground ginger 40g fresh ground garlic 60g mix masala
30g Garam masala 2g turmeric powder 2kg mutton, salt to taste 500g red ripe jam tomato, puréed 20g finely chopped coriander 10g finely chopped curry leaf 4 potatoes cut in quarters Method: Braise onion in oil until light golden brown. Add ginger or garlic paste. Add masalas and turmeric and stir, then add washed and drained meat. Stir until meat is well coated.
Add salt and allow masala to “fry” on a low heat with the meat for at least 10 minutes, mixing regularly without burning masala spices. Add tomato, chopped coriander, chopped curry leaf, water and allow to cook. When meat is almost soft add the potatoes and a bit of water. Allow to cook on medium to low heat until potatoes and meat are cooked. Check salt and garnish with fine chopped coriander. Serve in a quarter loaf and enjoy.
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Kota Made from a quarter of a loaf of bread and a large variety of meaty fillings, it has to be one of the perfect fast food meals to get your tummy full. The bread is hollowed out, filled first with a layer of seasoned hot chips, then topped with optional layers of sauce, cheese, egg, and meat.
Fried potato chips 1 Russian sausage Sauce (any sauce) Ham or polony Fried onion rings 1 vienna sausage Beef patty or chicken patty or rib patty Cheese 1 egg (optional) Atchar (optional)
Ingredients: Quarter of bread
Method: Take the quarter of bread and cut out the soft part out into a
square and toast it. In the open space of the bread, put your first layer of fried chips followed by the Russian then add sauce. Thereafter, you can place polony or ham. Add another layer of fried chips and onion rings and drip your sauce again. Add the vienna. Add your beef, chicken or rib patty. Add cheese or fried egg. Take the small soft piece of bread from the hollowed part and place it on top. Add Atchar.
150g/½ cup mayonnaise 2 tbs/60g mango atchar 150g-200g lettuce 200g/2 whole tomatoes, sliced 160g/4 gherkins, sliced 80g/4 hot pickled onions, sliced 8 slices cheese 500g deep-fried chips, spiced Steak: Sprinkle the steak and chops spice and masala over the tenderised minute steaks. Heat the oil and the butter in a large frying pan and cook the steaks on high heat, for 1 to 2
minutes on each side. Remove the steaks from the frying pan and set aside. Keep the juices. Gatsby: Combine the mayonnaise and mango atchar, and spread on the bottom of the sliced French loaf. Add lettuce, tomato, gherkins, pickled onions and steak in layers, finishing with the cheese slices. Combine the steak juice with deep-fried chips, and evenly scatter on to the gatsby (submarine sandwich). Cover with the top of the French loaf and serve.
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Masala Steak Gatsby With Gherkins And Pickled Onions Ingredients: Steak 1 tbs steak and chops spice 1 tsp traditional roasted masala 700g-800g tenderised minute steaks canola oil to fry 2 tbs butter or margarine Gatsby: 2 long French loves, cut in half
The Ultimate Braai Guide Any South African will tell you that boerewors and sunny skies are the essentials of a proudly African braai. Add tangy potato salad, a couple of juicy steaks and a group of friends to share it with, and you’ve got a recipe for an irresistibly delicious, fun-filled feast! We rounded up the best braai tips ...
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OST South Africans are skilled braaiers. But even so, there’s always an opportunity to improve and become a braai master. So ahead of your braai feast, here are some tips tips to elevate your fire cooking game. After braaiing, let the steak rest for at least five minutes before slicing, to allow the juices to redistribute evenly and give you a juicier steak. When turning a steak around on a braai, don’t use a fork, knife or any other sharp object you have managed to get your hands on. When you use a sharp object on the meat, you’re essentially piercing holes into the meat, and this means that it is losing moisture. So use braai tongs… or just use your fingers. Throw sprigs of fresh herbs such as sage, rosemary or thyme on to your fire. It will give your meat added flavour and make the air smell wonderful.
Sprinkle some plain white sugar over the wood and light with firelighters. The sugar burns at a high temperature which helps you increase the internal temperature of the wood, making it easier to braai with. Rosemary skewers are a great way to infuse extra flavour to your meats, such as lamb and firm fish like monkfish. Drizzle fresh lemon over during cooking, the aroma is truly irresistible. Pour apple juice into a spray bottle for pork chops or ribs. This adds a great natural sweetness to the meat. For those who will be skipping out on the red meat and grilling fish this Braai Day, here’s an easy way to prevent it from notoriously sticking to the grill. All you need to do is slice up some lemons, set them on the grill and place the fish on top of the lemon slices, which also adds to the tantalising taste of the fish, and grill as desired. No stick, no fuss!
BAKED CITRUS CAMEMBERT (Serves 4) Ingredients: 1 whole camembert grated rind of 1 orange grated rind of 1 lemon a few sprigs of lemon thyme 45ml rosé wine Methods: Pierce holes in the camembert and place in a double layer of foil. Sprinkle over the rinds and thyme. Pour over the wine. Seal well and place on the braai for 5 minutes until melted and oozing.
BRINJAL ROLLS (Serves 4-6)
CHICKEN ESPETADA (Serves 8-10) GRILLED HALOUMI BRUSCHETTA (Serves 6) Ingredients: 30ml lemon juice 60ml olive oil 30ml chopped fresh mint leaves 5ml chopped garlic salt and pepper 300g haloumi, cut into 5mm slices 2 tomatoes, sliced 1 ciabatta bread, sliced ready-made pesto
Ingredients: 125ml olive oil 30ml red wine vinegar 30ml dry sherry 1 red chilli, seeded and chopped 10ml chopped garlic 10ml dried thyme 5ml salt 5ml ground black pepper 6-8 bay leaves 8-10 chicken thighs trimmed of excess fat
Method: In a bowl, combine the lemon juice, oil, mint, garlic, and salt and pepper. Add the sliced haloumi and marinate for 30 minutes. Prepare the braai. On a hot grid, cook the haloumi until golden on both sides. Cook the tomatoes a few seconds a side. Brush the ciabatta slices with olive oil and cook until golden on either side. Arrange the ciabatta on a serving board, followed by a slice of tomato, and then the haloumi. Drizzle with pesto and serve.
Method: Combine all the ingredients for the marinade and mix well. Pour over the chicken thighs. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. Thread the thighs on to soaked wooden skewers or metal ones. If you have a bay tree, the chicken can be skewered on to cleaned branches. Prepare a hot fire and cook the skewers over indirect heat with the lid on for 30-40 minutes until well cooked. Base with any remaining marinade. Delicious served with Portuguese rolls.
Ingredients: 1 onion, peeled and chopped 45ml olive oil 5ml chopped garlic 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 30ml tomato paste 60ml chopped fresh basil salt and pepper 3 medium brinjals 60g pitted black olives, chopped 125ml grated Mozzarella Method: Fry the onion for a few minutes in 15ml of the oil. Add the garlic and cook for five minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, paste and half the basil and simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes until thickened. Season to taste. Cut each brinjal into 5 or 6 slices, lengthways. Pick out the largest 12 slices. Brush on both sides with oil and grill on the braai in batches until browned. Set aside. Grill the rest, then chop them and put them in a bowl. Add the olives. Add 60ml of the cooked tomato sauce to the chopped brinjals and olive mixture and stir. Spoon half of the rest of the tomato sauce into an ovenproof dish. Preheat oven to 200°C. Divide the filling between the brinjal slices. Sprinkle each with Mozzarella and basil. Roll each slice up. Pack them in the dish, seam-side down. Spoon the rest of the sauce over and sprinkle with the rest of the Mozzarella. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until heated through and the cheese is melted.
The Ultimate Braai Guide BUHLE MBONAMBI & LUTHO PASIYA
Vegetable and halloumi skewers
Olive-butter braai Mielies Ingredients: 1/3 cup (80ml) softened butter 3 Tbsp (45ml) olive tapenade 4-5 corn on the cob Method: Remove the husks from the corn on the cob. Simmer in water for about 10-12 minutes or until cooked through. Mix softened butter with olive tapenade and set aside. Place corn over medium coals for a few minutes, or until slightly charred. Serve with spoonful of flavoured butter.
BBQ Ribs Ingredients: 125ml tomato sauce 125ml chutney 60ml Worcestershire sauce 30ml sweet chilli sauce 15ml brown sugar 5ml chopped garlic 10ml English mustard powder salt and pepper 2kg ribs Mix all the ingredients together and stir to combine. Pour the marinade over the ribs and allow to stand for an hour or overnight. Braai over red hot coals for about 10 minutes per side, turning and basting with the leftover marinade, until done as desired.
Ingredients: 4-5 courgettes, thickly sliced 250g whole button mushrooms 250g cocktail tomatoes 1-2 red and yellow peppers, cut into cubes 250g halloumi cheese, cubed soaked wooden skewers Basting sauce: 60ml olive oil 30ml lemon juice 5ml Dijon mustard 5ml chopped garlic salt and pepper 15ml chopped thyme 15ml chopped rosemary Method: Thread the vegetables and halloumi alternately on to soaked skewers. Cook over hot coals, basting frequently, until vegetables are cooked and cheese is soft and slightly charred. Serve immediately.
Fried Pap Balls Thai Mussel Parcel
Braai Rump 2 Extra thick or 4 regular rump steaks For Marinade: 80ml sweet chilli sauce 10ml chopped garlic 10ml grated ginger 30ml fish sauce 60ml lime juice 60ml chopped coriander 10ml sesame oil Cucumber salad Ingredients: 4-5 small pickling cucumbers 80ml sugar 160ml white wine vinegar 1 small fennel bulb, chopped 1 red chilli, seeded and sliced thinly, 60ml peanuts, roasted and chopped, 30ml chopped coriander Method: Place the steaks in a shallow dish. Combine all the ingredients for the marinade and pour over the steaks. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Braai over medium coals for 10 minutes a side, basting occasionally. Remove, cover with tinfoil and allow to rest for 10 minutes before carving. Serve with the salsa.
Ingredients: 1kg half-shell mussels 2cm piece of ginger, peeled and grated 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 chilli, de-seeded and finely chopped juice and grated zest of 1 lemon and 1 lime salt and pepper 400g tin of coconut milk 1 stalk of lemongrass, bruised 125ml chopped coriander Method: Place the mussels in a plastic bag. Add in the ginger, garlic, chilli, and lemon and lime juice and zest. Season with salt and pepper. Shake the bag to coat all the mussels. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the coconut milk and lemongrass in a pot and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until reduced and slightly thickened. Remove and cool. Discard the lemongrass. Cut two large pieces of tinfoil and place on the work surface. Place the mussels into the middle. Pour the coconut milk evenly over the mussels. Fold the edges of tinfoil over the mussels and press the edges firmly together to seal. Place on a hot braai, cover with the lid and cook for 10 minutes, until heated through and bubbling. Remove and serve in the tinfoil parcel sprinkled with coriander.
Ingredients: Some organic sweetcorn 1 onion, finely chopped 1 chilli, de-seeded and chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 5 tsp of cooking oil 360g Maize Meal (3 cups), 1 chicken stock 1 tsp salt 1 tsp chopped chives 3 tsp butter 100g grated cheddar cheese Cornflour, for dusting Method: Char-grill the corn ears over a hot grill until cooked. Cut the kernels from the cob and set aside to rub or roll the maize balls in. Grease an oven dish and line with greaseproof paper. In a large pot, fry onion, garlic and chilli in oil for 2 minutes over high heat. Add white wine and boil for about 3 minutes. Add maize meal and stir. While at it, add 2 cups of chicken stock and continue stirring. When it has mixed well, add another 2 cups of chicken stock while stirring. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking while stirring for about 5 minutes. Add the salt and the reserved corn kernels and stir through. Remove from the heat. Add chopped chives, butter and cheddar cheese. Stir vigorously to melt the butter and cheese without allowing the mixture to split. Cook the pap normally and cut into small balls or roll it once cold. Transfer the mixture and roll in the corn. Cover with a piece of buttered greaseproof paper and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Heat 3 tbs of oil in a large frying or griddle pan until smoking hot. Gently fry the dusted squares on both sides until golden and crispy. Transfer back to the oven dish and place in the preheated oven for 4-7 minutes until heated through.
SA’s national dish? BY BUHLE MBONAMBI
Does South Africa have a national dish? Is there one particular dish that you can only get in South Africa and is the first thing you think of when someone mentions South African cuisine? We have gone with two universal favourites, umleqwa (boiled chicken), which was Madiba’s favourite meal and lamb akhni, which is not the same as breyani...
Umleqwa (hard–body chicken) Serves 4 Madiba loved this dish and so do many of us. No family gathering in the township is complete without some hard body chicken. You can have it with jeqe, pap and with a spicy relish, like chakalaka, which will bring that kick the chicken needs to taste even better.
Ingredients: 1½ kg chicken (farm is best but otherwise free range), cut into pieces 1 onion, chopped 1 tbsp flour 3 cups (750ml) chicken stock chopped fresh parsley to serve Method: Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Boil the chicken in 1 cup water for 10
minutes with the lid off; the water will evaporate. Allow the chicken to slightly fry in its own fat for a further 5 minutes. Add the onion and the flour, and cook for another few minutes. Stir in the stock, bring to the boil and cover. Cover for 20-25 minutes until the chicken has cooked through Scatter with parsley, and serve with the sauce on the side
Salwaa’s Lamb / Mutton Akhni Salwaa Smith, Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights Ingredients: 1kg lamb/mutton pieces 6 medium potatoes, peeled and halved 1 heaped tsp saffron (optional) 250ml (1 cup) boiling water 3 large onions, finely chopped 15ml (1 tbs) butter or margarine 250ml (1 cup) buttermilk 1 large whole fresh green chilli, slit open 15ml (1 tbs) garlic and ginger paste 125ml (½ cup) chopped fresh dhania 12.5ml (2½ tsp) salt, to taste 12.50ml (2½ tsp) red leaf masala 10ml (2 tsp) ground jeera 5ml (1 tsp) chilli powder 10ml (2 tsp) turmeric 1kg basmati rice
125ml (½ cup) oil 7.5ml (1½ tsp) jeera seeds 5ml (1 tsp) mustard seeds 2 bay leaves 6 cardamom pods, slit open 4 pieces of stick cinnamon 60ml (¼ cup) water Method: Wash the lamb/mutton, drain and set aside. Boil potatoes in water, with salt to taste, until half-cooked and still firm. Infuse the saffron in the boiling water and set aside. Pan-fry 1 chopped onion in 15ml (1 tbs) of the butter and set aside. Place the mutton pieces in a large mixing bowl and add the buttermilk, green chilli, garlic and ginger paste, dhania, salt, red leaf masala, ground jeera, chilli powder and turmeric. Mix thoroughly, ensuring that all the mutton pieces are covered in the marinade. Set aside for 1 hour. Rinse the rice in a colander, drain and place in a large pot on medium to high heat. Add water to reach halfway
and add 45ml (3 tbs) salt. Boil till half-cooked (the rice grains should be firm). Transfer to a colander and rinse under cold running water. Drain and set aside. To a large pot on medium to high heat, add the oil and heat. Add the remaining onions along with the jeera seeds, mustard seeds, bay leaves, cardamom seeds and cinnamon, and braise till golden. Add the marinated meat and the marinade, the 60ml (¼ cup) of water and simmer on medium heat for about 30 minutes, or till the meat is tender and cooked. Arrange the potatoes between the meat pieces and spoon the rice on top. Pour the fried onion with the melted butter over the rice, and pour the cup of water containing saffron over the rice and onions. Steam, covered, for 35 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve with dhai and tomato and onion salad. Note: All akhnis and breyanis should be dished from the bottom up.
South Africans love sweet things – we sweeten veggie dishes, we love barbecue sauce on meat and one of our puddings has its own day.
Filling: 300g low-fat soft cheese 50g castor sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 300ml single cream 2 large eggs Icing sugar, for sprinkling Topping: 30g butter 30g castor sugar 1 apple, cored and thinly sliced 1 pear, cored and thinly sliced Generous pinch of sea salt Method: Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 6. Sift flour and salt together. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add sugar, egg yolk and enough chilled water to make a smooth (not sticky) dough. Wrap and chill for 10-15 minutes. Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface and use to line a 25cm flan ring or dish. Line with baking paper and baking beans or crumpled foil. Bake blind (without a filling) for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas Mark 4. Beat together the low fat soft cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, single cream and eggs. Remove baking paper and beans/ foil from pastry case. Pour in the filling and bake for 2530 minutes, until set. Cool. For the topping, melt the butter in a frying pan and add the castor sugar, cooking for a few moments to dissolve it. Add the apple and pear slices and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes, until tender and beginning to caramelise. Add the sea salt, cool slightly, then spoon on top of the tart. Cook’s tip: Use a pre-baked pastry case.
esserts
Ingredients: 225g plain flour ½ tsp salt 110g chilled butter, cut into pieces 2 tsp castor sugar 1 egg yolk Chilled water, to mix
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BY LUTHO PASIYA
Hope Malau’s Peppermint Crisp Tart Ingredients: Serves 6 500ml (2 cups cream) 1 x 385g Nestle Caramel Treat 3 x 35g bars Nestle Peppermint Crisp chocolate, chopped peppermint essence (optional) 1 x 200g packet Bakers Tennis Biscuits Method: Whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the caramel and two-thirds of the chocolate. Add a few drops of peppermint essence. Layer the biscuits in a square or rectangular dish. Spoon the cream mixture on top of the biscuits and sprinkle the chocolate on top. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours, or until set.
Indian Payasam Ingredients: 2 cinnamon sticks 3 cardamom pods 1 cup vermicelli, broken 110g butter 1 litre full cream milk ½ cup sago 2 tbs sugar (according to taste) 2 tbs condensed milk 100g flaked almonds, toasted 100ml cold water Method: Soak the sago in the cold water. Place the cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods into a pot and roast on low heat. Add the vermicelli and stir until light golden brown. Don’t burn. Add the butter and stir for a minute. Then add the milk. Drain the sago and add to pot. Simmer on a low heat until the vermicelli softens and the sago looks like tiny, glass beads. Mix will thicken. You may add more milk if it gets too thick. Once the vermicelli is cooked, add the sugar. Once the payasum is cooked, remove from heat and stir in the condensed milk for extra creaminess. Garnish with toasted almonds and serve warm.
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So much about a country and its culture is expressed through its cuisine, and salads happen to form a very big part of South Africa’s food scene. The salads and side dishes South Africans enjoy are as authentic as any home-grown dish. NATHAN ADAMS & LUTHO PASIYA THERE IS a rich legacy and history, deeply rooted in the traditional potato salad, coleslaw, sambals, beetroot and three beans dishes. The manner in which we prepare our salads and the ingredients we instinctively choose are uniquely South African. Chef and Cape Malay Cuisine expert Cass Abrahams says it’s a history we can be proud of. “Salads, the way we know them today, were never like this before. They have changed over the years,” she says. Centuries ago, the African and coloured families in South Africa
scoffed at the idea of green salads, and it was not uncommon to hear the expression “Ek eet nie blare nie” (I don’t eat leaves), when they were presented with lettuce or rocket as a side dish. Abrahams, who is now over 70 years old, says: “I remember when I first tasted wild rocket. It was growing in the garden, and the thought of using it in a salad never occurred to me.” Over the years, as our needs and grocery lists changed, salads adapted, and some became obsolete. Slaphakskeentjies was one of the side dishes that hasn’t stood the test
of time. Consisting of pickled onions, eggs, milk or cream and vinegar, it was a staple as a side dish decades ago. Abrahams is loath to agree that South African salads need to be modernised to adapt to 21st century meals and diets. “There is still nothing better than a roast, yellow rice and beetroot salad,” she says. This is a sentiment with which many would agree, because there is a familiarity in the traditional salads that have become staples in South African homes.
Brewing umqombothi is a four-day process that requires maize meal, sorghum, and a catalyst to speed up the process. DAY 1: Mix equal parts of maize meal and sorghum in a container, add warm water so that it covers the surface to about 3cm. Keep warm overnight. This will allow for primary fermentation and souring. DAY 2: Cook the mixture to the thickness of porridge and cool overnight.
A look into local beverages
DAY 3: Add sorghum to cooled porridge and mix until the porridge liquifies. If in colder conditions, add a carton of sorghum beer, keep it in a warm area overnight. DAY 4: Sieve the fermented beer and enjoy it.
| Recipe by brewmaster and founder of Kulcha Konkushin, Palesa Mohale.
BY LUTHO PASIYA TRADITIONAL dishes are known to be seasoned with history. It is the same for the traditional African classics which are known to the African nations as umqombothi (traditional beer), gemere (ginger beer), and pineapple beer.
TRADITIONAL BEER
Traditional beer has always been prepared for purposes where there are celebrations, funerals, or when a family needs to get in touch with their ancestors. This beer is made from maize, maize malt, sorghum malt, yeast, and water and takes a couple of days to be ready, due to the fermentation process. Traditionally, it is brewed in a special hut that is not completely thatched so smoke can escape and the beer gets enough oxygen to ferment.
GINGER BEER
Ginger beer which is also known as gemmerbier can be made into a flavoured soft drink or alcohol or non-alcohol beverage. It is made from a blend of ginger, water, and sugar that’s fermented with yeast, then carbonated and bottled.
PINEAPPLE BEER
Pineapple beer is a drink made with fresh ripe pineapple and lime for a healthy, home remedy drink. As South Africa went into lockdown in March, the nation became temporarily obsessed with making beer at home which led to the rise of the pineapple beer. It was by far the most popular, and easy to replicate drink at home. It is a refreshing drink and is non-alcoholic if consumed relatively soon after making, but can pack a punch if left to ferment longer.
Jenny Morris Pineapple Beer Ingredients: skin of 1 large pineapple flesh of 1/2 pineapple, chopped into small pieces 7 litres of lukewarm water 2 1/2 cups white sugar 80g raisins 10g sachet instant yeast Method: Wash the pineapple skin and chop it into small pieces. Place the chopped skin and pineapple flesh together with the water, sugar and raisins in a large, very clean container. Stir well together. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface of the water and let it stand for half an hour, then give it a really good stir. Cover it with a very clean cloth and leave in a cool spot for 24 hours. After that, strain the liquid through a piece of muslin cloth and decant into well sterilised bottles. Balance the lids on the bottles but don’t seal them, and let them stand that way for 12 hours. Seal the caps and chill in the fridge.
Jenny Morris Ginger Beer (Makes 5 Litres) Ingredients: 4,5 litres water 50g ginger root, crushed 2 1/2 cups white sugar 1 Tbs active yeast (1 1/2 x 10g sachets) 10 raisins (optional) Method: Place the water in a very clean stainless steel saucepan and bring it to the boil. Add the ginger and sugar, and simmer till the sugar has dissolved. Removed from the hear and cool until the liquid is lukewarm. Stir in the yeast and cover the saucepan, leaving to brew for two days. Strain the ginger beer through a piece of clean muslin cloth. Bottle in clean sterilised bottles and, if you are using raisins, place a few in each bottle. Close tightly. Place the bottles in the fridge to chill and consume within a week.
Locally distilled vodkas and gins SA is on the map as one of the best vodka and gin producing regions. Here’s our list of the home-grown spirits to try. They’ll soon become a favourite LUTHO PASIYA
VACHELLIA PREMIUM VODKA Vachellia premium vodka, founded by Siyabonga Sangquthu and Thabiso Mogodi, is a standard grain-based vodka produced in Cape Town. It’s distilled seven times, left to rest for two days and then bottled at 43% alcohol. It is an incredibly smooth vodka with an unmatched taste. “We wanted to do something different, something that would set us apart from the crowd, something inspiring, relatable, graceful, cultured, and something that embodies Africa and her elegance,” they say. “We wanted to give the world a new taste of Africa... in style, and with luxury at the forefront.”
GR8DIENT VODKA Gr8dient vodka was co-founded in 2017 by Sakhile Mkhalele and Lesego Tshelane. Mkhalele says the bottle – from the chrome cork closure to the tall slim bottle that towers over its competitors – is a representation of SA’s opulence. “We wanted a bottle that would be bold, eye-catching, and stand tall amongst our competitors. With regard to the design, we went with a gradient effect because we wanted a bottle that tells a story about the process of life, that we go through different shades or phases. Some phases will be brighter or darker than others but at the end of the day, we need to enjoy the process as all the shades shape us.
NATIVE GIN The Native Spirits brand draws inspiration from SA’s rich culture and heritage of brewing beer and distilling spirits. It pays homage to the native men and women who through the art of distilling, and curated and shaped celebrations over generations. Founder Ashley Moemise says the packaging represents who they are as a blackowned brand. The copper represents not who they are, and the wealth of their people and their land. “Almost all our botanicals are sourced locally, something we pride ourselves in. The logo is a native Maori face mask showing the Koru lines which represent family and the Manawa lines. It represents one’s life journey – in this case, my personal and entrepreneurial journey and travels. With the botanicals we chose, we were very deliberate in making our flagship, Native gin, a classic silver gin which forms the base of the other two gins that we produce.
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