3 must-try South African dishes

@AlexaAC This food originally from Sabah, Malaysia. Nowadays, linopot can only be found at specialty restaurants, and during festive occasions in Malaysia.

A staple of Kadazandusun cuisine, linopot refers to rice that is steamed in a leaf, usually leaf from the tarap or banana tree, which are big enough to wrap around the rice.

Traditionally, the hill rice is mixed with boiled yams or sweet potato so it takes on a purplish or brown hue from the root vegetables. Nowadays, people usually use white rice. The mixture is then compacted well into a roundish shape. Even when cold, the rice is deliciously fragrant and good enough to eat on its own.

Linopot came about because of necessity; farmers and villagers who travelled far from home could then carry their lunch with them.

I ate this meal in a ceremony in Seremban. Malaysia.

11 Likes

Sounds good @PavelSarwar , thanks!

Hope to visit Malaysia in the near future to taste that. :slight_smile:

8 Likes

Really nice post! Thanks @AlexaAC

As a Jamaican, I know what you mean about our own food. I had rice and peas with jerk chicken and jerk pork yesterday, bought because by the time I’d finished my post and did some work, I was hungry and couldn’t buy the chicken to make my own version.

Nothing beats food I’ve grown up eating! I can see you cherish your own cultural foods as well!

:+1:

Kol-Colleen

9 Likes

Hi @AlexaAC I am happy to hear that you are actually from South Africa, I did not know that, surprised!!! mentioning South African dishes, Chakalaka is always there as part of the Sunday dish, Johannesburg is a home of mines that is why it is called the city of Gold, your second dish is looking delicious, The bunny chow! I never ate this one but I would like to have one some days. This one is mostly liked by the Indian community especially here in Durban, most of restaurants does serve this in town.

11 Likes

These dishes look yummy @AlexaAC . First time I have ever seen what South African cuisine looks like.

The Bunny Chow looks interesting to try. Is the thick slice of bread toasted first? Thinking it would help absorb some of the savory meat sauce. And is it traditionally a vegetarian meal coming from India?

I wonder are there certain spices or ingredients that are native to South Africa? That certain taste or smell that makes you homesick or think “ahhh, South Africa!”

Tagging Connect Moderators @SoniaK @ErmesT @FaridTDF who are foodies and love to see and learn about new foods.

Cheers,

Karen

12 Likes

Gujarati Thali

identifier.html (773 KB)

(Gujarati Thali : Dal-Rise, Roti, Papad, Sabji, buttermilk and salad.)

10 Likes

So special of SA disdes~!!

8 Likes

It’s a really nice platter @NareshDarji

Looks like a starter!

8 Likes

Hi @Kol-Colleen_2018

Its not a starter.

Its a very popular main dish in our Gujarat.

7 Likes

I could easily eat that dish and another dish!

:sweat_smile:

Kol-Colleen

7 Likes

Great post @AlexaAC - I liked the photos, the description and the reference to restaurants.

7 Likes

Hi @AlexaAC

I think Chakalaka can be made easily at home. I will obviously try it to make. And the Bunny chow is so mouthwatering that I am feeling hungry after seeing it. Thank you so much for sharing your traditional dishes with us.

7 Likes

Thank you @AlexaAC for a detailed description of the traditional dishes and how to prepare them. I was impressed with the preparation of Chakalaka.Your post is so informative including the origins of this dish. I am from Zimbabwe and also enjoy this dish which has been so commercialised that I thought it was from here.But from your description and the name itself it’s truly South Africa

What a great post this is thanks.

11 Likes

Great post @AlexaAC :grinning:

First dish Chakalaka looks like an Indian dish named ‘Paw Bhaji’ :blush::blush:

6 Likes

Hi @AlexaAC

Your post rings close to home, coming from a fellow South African.

Wanted to add a sweet side to South African cuisine - Koeksisters.

There are actually 2 types of this syrup-infused sweet-treat, the Afrikaner version, and the Cape Malay version.

The story goes that both recipes were brought to the Cape by the Dutch settlers in 1652. One was for a deep-fried treat, similar to a doughnut, the other for a thin, sweet, bowtie-like invention similar to that of pasta.

Time went by and somebody started combining the two recipes, but instead of making balls of dough, rather started braiding them together. This caused quite a craze and what South Africans have come to know and love as the Koeksister of today.

5 Likes

Thanks for the post and the irresistible photos @LeeBee-SA . Just yesterday, I was chatting with a friend about the culture in SA, and it was an interesting conversation.

I would love to taste the Chakalaka with some freshly baked bread. Now I feel hungry.

Well, as far as Nigerian foods are concerned, the following are recommended:

  1. Nigerian Jollof rice with fried plantain, and grilled chicken

  2. Pounded yam with Egusi soup

  3. Ofada rice

7 Likes

Great to know about new receipies.

4 Likes

Great to know about new recipes. Your Bunny Chow looks like Indian Pau Bhaji…

3 Likes

Hi @AlexaAC like chakalaka dish ,in Mumbai there is tongue tickling dish called pav bhaji in Hindi language .Its vegetarian dish made of mashed potato ,peas,cauliflower,capcicum,tomato and laced with butter with small pieces of onions as topping.Its served hot with bun bread .At present I dont have the photograph of the dish when I have it,it will be posted,

5 Likes

Chakalaka sounds like a dance as well.

@DrRajanwalawalkar @AlexaAC

Did the word originate from a traditional dance?

I’ve heard of the word mentioned in a discussion about a town before.

The mention of South African food reminds me of a fire camp meal on a hot summer’s night.

Kol-Colleen

5 Likes