South Africa: 6 delicious culinary specialities to try on a trip
A land rich in history and culture, made up of many different ecosystems - inland forests and paradise beaches - South Africa is a country full of surprises. And so are its specialities. Here's a look at this many-faceted cuisine.
While South Africa is famous for its vineyards, its many safaris featuring the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and African buffalo), its magnificent natural parks and its major city centres, South African food deserves a little more recognition. This cuisine has a wide variety of tastes and textures, taking you on a sensory journey across several continents. It features influences from all over the world, from the Dutch to the Boers to the Zulu through the indigenous populations, or even British, Indian or Malaysian. The core of this cuisine is always the meat - and always of the highest quality... and sometimes even exotic game such as ostrich or crocodile.
Want to travel to South Africa? Here are some articles to help you plan out your trip:
- South Africa: the most beautiful UNESCO-listed sites to discover right away
- South Africa: favourite treks and hikes in a ramblers’ paradise
- Hotels in South Africa: five niche retreats at the heart of nature
- South Africa’s most beautiful national parks
Braai, the barbecue and its classic Boerewors
No trip to South Africa is complete without trying a traditional braai, one of the most important barbecues in the nation. A true culinary experience, braai is a meal often served for celebrations. Try a boerewors, a pork, beef or game sausage seasoned with coriander, pepper and nutmeg... An experience more authentic than in any restaurant.
Biltong, dried meat
Biltong is just like to its cousin the dried sausage. In fact, it's a very popular South African snack that's made with salted meat - a very useful conservation method when refrigerators weren’t around yet. Often made from beef or game (ostrich, zebra, kudu, springbok or antelope), this dried meat is seasoned with vinegar, salt, sugar, coriander and/or chilli.
Chakalaka: when spicy meets veggies
Sometimes described as “spicy relish,” Chakalaka is actually a dish of raw vegetable most often served as a side dish to the meat. Made with onions, carrots, tomatoes, chillies, peppers and spices, it comes in many variations. Every house has their own way of preparing it.
Bobotie, a spicy shepherd's pie
Bobotie is a meat dish that seems to have been around since the 17th century. It is not unlike to the typical shepherd's pie, except it is made with tomatoes and chutney, crunchy vegetables and dried fruit. This version is also spicier - especially with curry. Best eaten with saffron rice.
Bunny Chow, surprise bread
A speciality from Durban, Bunny Chow is an immensely popular classic, even in the London markets. This dish is actually a loaf of bread stuffed with spicy curry. It is the only dish that comes in vegetarian versions - lentils, beans and regular versions - chicken, pork.
Koeksister, a honey twisted doughnut
A sweet treat to finish off this typical South African menu: Koeksisters are particularly sweet honey doughnuts. Braided then fried, they are sometimes sprinkled with grated coconut for added flavor.
- https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/south-africa-6-delicious-culinary-specialities-to-try-on-a-trip/ar-AA1oyQD6?ocid=00000000
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