Whether deep in the Karoo or on the coasts of Cape Town, South Africa maintains a diverse population with their own creative approach to food.
From Seven Colours to boerewors, the South African cuisine culture is ripe and alive with diversity, flavour, and delicious bites.
Let’s take a look at some of the kinds of dishes that are a national treasure in our rainbow nation.
Meaty Madness
It’s no secret that South Africans are meat lovers at heart.
With a country that prides itself in exquisite farmlands and some of the best cattle you can find, the rainbow nation is not shy when it comes to a carnivorous diet.
Beef, pork, lamb, you name it. South Africans love little else except a decent poitjie or braai.
Whether afhal, boerewors, or straight cuts, we also developed a healthy pallet for the consumption of all parts of the animal.
Some meat dishes that are proudly South African include the following:
- Skilpaaidjies
- Boerewors (love this one)
- Biltong
- Afhal
- Smileys
- Peri Peri Chicken
There’s literally something for every occasion, every day of the week just when it comes to meat.
Coastal Cuisine
With two oceans on each coast of our country, we have a huge variety of seafood to behold.
From the Coloured community and their delicious Bokkom, to the Portuguese flavoured prawns, there are multiple cultures and influences that remain present in our foods.
South Africa has some amazing fishing coasts and areas to enjoy any kind of food from the sea.
Some of these dishes include the following:
- Smoked Snoek
- Crayfish
- Calamari
- Mozambique styled prawns
- A variety of seafood curries
- Mussels
All of these mouth-watering bites can be found across the country, but we all know that the best seafood is always found at the coast!
A Cultural Country
With eleven national languages, South Africa consists of a huge number of communities and cultures.
In terms of food, this diversity creates dishes to die for in any region.
The Cape Malay people have their delicious Briyani. The Afrikaans and the numerous ways to make lamb. The Mozambique communities and their spices.
There is no doubt that the combination of these cultures has mixed and matched themselves in the best of ways and this is seen in the foods we get!
We truly are a rainbow nation, represented in our communities and most importantly, our food!
