Foods From South Africa To Try Before You Kick The Bucket

If you’re lucky enough to be planning a trip to South Africa in the near future, you’ll need to dip into the local cuisine and lucky for you, it’s a good one at that! The foods you’ll find in South Africa are influenced by the indigenous population, along with Dutch, French, Indian and Malaysian populations as well. Safe to say, it’s all vibrant and super exciting and you’ll end up having a hard time choosing which local dish to try first!

See also: All The Comfort Foods To Try When You’re In The Southern States

Biltong

Biltong is a thinly sliced, air-dried meat and it’s a method first done by the South African indigenous folks. Usually made from beef or game, the meat is cured in a mixture of vinegar, salt, sugar and spices and then it’s hung to dry. The end result is an absolutely delicious and addictive product that’s typically enjoyed nowadays as a snack.

Bunny Chow

Originally from the Indians who settled in the Natal area of Durban, Bunny Chow is a popular street food that’s made from hollowed out loaves of bread that are filled with flavourful and spicy curry. Chicken and pork varieties are popular but if meat isn’t your thing, it’s easy to find ones made with lentils or beans.

Bobotie

A dish that’s thought to have been brought to South Africa from Asian immigrants is Bobotie which is basically a South African beef casserole and it’s so popular that it’s become the national dish of the whole country! It’s made with ground meat that’s been simmered with spices, typically curry powder, herbs and dried fruit. It’s all topped with a mixture of egg and milk that gets baked until set.

Chakalaka & Pap

On any South African dining table, it’s likely that you’ll find Chakalaka and Pap. Chakalaka is a vegetable dish that’s made with onions, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beans and spices, and it’s typically served cold. Pap on the other hand is similar to what Americans call grits and it’s a starchy dish that’s made from white corn maize. Chakalaka and pap are usually served together.

Braai/Shisa nyama

If you’re after a real South African dining experience, then don’t miss out on authentic braai or shisa nyama. Meaning ‘burn the meat’ in Zulu, this is a meat-eaters idea of heaven because it’s all about grilling beef, chicken, pork, lamb, sausages and more.

Melktert

And for dessert, it’s all about melktert. This classic South African dessert dish is similar to the British custard tart and the Portuguese pasteis de nata. Melktert is a pastry case that’s filled with milk, eggs and sugar and it’s traditionally finished with a dusting with cinnamon.