When you travel somewhere, it is always great to eat the local foods since it truly permits you to get to know a nation. South Africa's cuisine accurately reflects its political situation, having various food for each ethnic group. Certain recipes have actually stayed true to their beginnings but other dishes are a combination of the cooking styles of the various other ethnic groups.
To comprehend where certain tastes originate from, it's useful to understand how the South African Population is divided. On the one hand we have the native Bantu population, then we have the European colonialists who were English and generally dutch, then we have the Muslim community which has created its own ethnic group over centuries.
The Muslim ethnic group originated in the 17th century, when the colonialists brought slaves in from Madagascar, India and Indonesia. They were prohibited from practice the Christian faith therefore slowly relied on the Islamic faith. They had kids with the native Koi and San populations who were likewise enslaved and slowly, over time, gave birth to an ethnic group with physical characteristics which were halfway between the Indians and Africans.
The cuisine of this new ethnic group is significantly influenced by the Indian culture, and spices such as cardamom and curry are plentiful. A lot of corner stores will sell 'samosas', thin triangular pastry savories full of vegetable or meat curry. Another really common meal is called 'sosaties' which is similar to the kebab found in the middle east.
From the indigenous African population, we have a lot of meat dishes which make use of antelope, springbok and ostrich meat. There is likewise a typical Xhosa dish called 'samp', which is made from dried corn kernels which have been partially ground, but not entirely.
From Dutch descent, we have a particular method of drying meat which produces rather hard, but very tasty strips of meat. This is called 'biltong', from the 2 Dutch words 'bil' (rump) and 'tong' (strip). A variation of this is 'droewors' which is dried sausage. The word 'braaivleis' is likewise of Dutch origin and has turned into one of South Africa's most significant cooking traditions. It is basically a barbecue, but the marinade is commonly sweet and can consist of Indian chutney, beer or even Coca-Cola! Any South African, Malay, Bantu or Dutch descendant enjoys a 'braai' with pals over the weekend!
The Dutch culinary custom is truly quite large and includes meals which were utilized by the first 'Settlers'. One such recipe is called 'potjiekos' and is a veggie and meat stew which is prepared in a 3 leg pot over the fire. Sometimes beer or sherry and Indian spices are added to this scrumptious stew.
From the English tradition, we have the typical fish and chips, which have actually gotten an entire brand-new flavor in South Africa! If you visit the little port of Hout Bay, you will have the pleasure of tasting some of the most memorable fish cakes you are likely to ever come across! The chips are served with vinegar and are aromatic and soft.
When booking your South Africa holidays, make sure to very carefully plan where you will be eating. The very best thing is to go to some good South African bistros that serve many of the national dishes, however also book for a typical Malay meal and a traditional Xhosa meal.
Talk to your tour guide, or to some locals, and see if it is possible to be invited to a braai. In the SA tradition, the men cook the meat whilst the ladies organize the salads. Quite a bit of beer gets served before the food prepares and this makes for a really vibrant event!
To comprehend where certain tastes originate from, it's useful to understand how the South African Population is divided. On the one hand we have the native Bantu population, then we have the European colonialists who were English and generally dutch, then we have the Muslim community which has created its own ethnic group over centuries.
The Muslim ethnic group originated in the 17th century, when the colonialists brought slaves in from Madagascar, India and Indonesia. They were prohibited from practice the Christian faith therefore slowly relied on the Islamic faith. They had kids with the native Koi and San populations who were likewise enslaved and slowly, over time, gave birth to an ethnic group with physical characteristics which were halfway between the Indians and Africans.
The cuisine of this new ethnic group is significantly influenced by the Indian culture, and spices such as cardamom and curry are plentiful. A lot of corner stores will sell 'samosas', thin triangular pastry savories full of vegetable or meat curry. Another really common meal is called 'sosaties' which is similar to the kebab found in the middle east.
From the indigenous African population, we have a lot of meat dishes which make use of antelope, springbok and ostrich meat. There is likewise a typical Xhosa dish called 'samp', which is made from dried corn kernels which have been partially ground, but not entirely.
From Dutch descent, we have a particular method of drying meat which produces rather hard, but very tasty strips of meat. This is called 'biltong', from the 2 Dutch words 'bil' (rump) and 'tong' (strip). A variation of this is 'droewors' which is dried sausage. The word 'braaivleis' is likewise of Dutch origin and has turned into one of South Africa's most significant cooking traditions. It is basically a barbecue, but the marinade is commonly sweet and can consist of Indian chutney, beer or even Coca-Cola! Any South African, Malay, Bantu or Dutch descendant enjoys a 'braai' with pals over the weekend!
The Dutch culinary custom is truly quite large and includes meals which were utilized by the first 'Settlers'. One such recipe is called 'potjiekos' and is a veggie and meat stew which is prepared in a 3 leg pot over the fire. Sometimes beer or sherry and Indian spices are added to this scrumptious stew.
From the English tradition, we have the typical fish and chips, which have actually gotten an entire brand-new flavor in South Africa! If you visit the little port of Hout Bay, you will have the pleasure of tasting some of the most memorable fish cakes you are likely to ever come across! The chips are served with vinegar and are aromatic and soft.
When booking your South Africa holidays, make sure to very carefully plan where you will be eating. The very best thing is to go to some good South African bistros that serve many of the national dishes, however also book for a typical Malay meal and a traditional Xhosa meal.
Talk to your tour guide, or to some locals, and see if it is possible to be invited to a braai. In the SA tradition, the men cook the meat whilst the ladies organize the salads. Quite a bit of beer gets served before the food prepares and this makes for a really vibrant event!
About the Author:
We are a little South Africa based company with a real love for our nation. It is a real pleasure to offer travel info, commitment free! Come see us at www.capetours.co.uk.
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