Traditional Food in South Africa

With so many different cultures and traditions in South Africa, there is no wonder that the traditional food of this country is of various types. Due to a remarkable diversity in terms of cultures, South Africa is considered a land for delicious dining. According to the cultural background, the cuisines of each of the race groups also vary. In general, different food dishes are being served in accordance to the particular festival and/or occasion.

South Africa: Main Food Ingredients

Maize and meat are the staples in most of the traditional food menus in South Africa. It is believed that maize crop was grown in many parts of South Africa since the ancient times, even before the arrival of colonial times. Since then, maize has become a staple food of Africans. Other important food crops include millet and sorghum; however, these are utilized for making traditional beer. Regarding meat, the meats of goat, cattle and sheep are most preferred in South Africa.

South Africa: Traditional Food Dishes

The most popular traditional food of South Africa is 'mieliepap', a maize and meal porridge. It is enjoyed by all the races of Africa, either black or white. It can be served in the breakfast or in the main course of the meal. In the breakfast, mieliepap is served with butter and cheese toppings.

A favorite traditional dish of South Africa is the 'braai' (meaning barbecue or roast). The traditional way of preparing meat is by grilling over open fire or stewing on hot coals with the help of a three-legged cooking pot called potjie (made up of cast iron). Meat cooked by this method, often accompanied by cooked vegetables, can be obtained in the restaurants of South Africa. Chakalaka is a favorite dish of the foreign tourists, which is a vegetable stir-fry served with the roasted meat.

Another favorite dish is 'boerewors' (singular), which is a spicy sausage dish. Boerewors, in traditional style, is made in a continuous spiral fashion. It is prepared by using coarsely minced meat (preferably meat of beef, pork, lamb or combination) and a wide variety of spices that usually include coriander seeds, nutmeg, cloves, pepper and allspice. For this particular dish, the sausage is preserved in Worcestershire sauce, salt and vinegar. A true boerewors contains 90 percent of real meat (of which 75 percent is beef and remaining is pork) and less than 30 percent of fat.

Though the traditional dish 'mopani worm' is a delicacy for the native people of South Africa, it is not so popular among the visitors. Mopani worm is highly nutritious, as it contains rich amount of protein, fats and minerals. Before cooking, the gut of the caterpillars is first squeezed out, after which the caterpillars are either boiled in a little water or fried in their own fat. They can also be cooked with onions and tomatoes. Usually, dried caterpillars are stored for using throughout the year.

While speaking about the traditional food of South Africa, it is incomplete without mentioning 'biltong'. It is a type of cured meat, made by adding other ingredients like coriander, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. For making biltong, the meat pieces are marinated in vinegar for a few hours, which are then flavored with spices. Biltong is found in any food shops and is a favorite of many people.

Well! These are some of the traditional food dishes of South Africa. The traditional food is in fact, an amalgamation of other cuisines like the Italian, Chinese, Indian, Moroccan and Portuguese. Any food dish that you ask for, you will certainly get in South Africa.