There are many different cuisines that exist in South Africa today, some of which have spread beyond its borders to be enjoyed by the rest of the world too. The fusion of local ingredients with new cooking methods imported from Europe and India has produced interesting dishes that vary depending on where you are in the country.
For example, you may find yourself eating fish cooked over an open fire on the coast, or eating a traditional potjie-sosatie stew in the north of the country. Here’s a look at South African cuisine – past and present – to help you discover how foreign influences have shaped what we eat today.
1) Dishes Influenced by European Culture
When you visit South Africa, you will be surprised by how Indian it is. Apart from being influenced by India through colonization, South African food has also been influenced by Europeans in their own unique way. Due to British colonization, some influences are unmistakably British while others are more subtle or nuanced.
Because of Dutch settlers in Cape Town for many centuries, you’ll see lots of similarities between traditional South African food and dishes served at various functions in Europe today. Some traditional meals include pap (samp), mealie pap (cornmeal porridge), bobotie (spiced meatloaf with an egg baked on top), or boerewors which is a sausage made with beef mixed with pork fat that’s grilled over an open fire.
Boerewors rolls can be eaten with tomato chutney or even with curry sauce! Of course, every country in Europe is different but South African cuisine carries a lot of Asian influence as well. If you ask any local if they like Chinese food and they’ll probably say yes because almost everyone does! Another favorite would have to be peri-peri chicken. It was introduced into Indian cuisine during Portuguese colonization around 1498 when Vasco da Gama opened up trade routes to West Africa’s western coast. Today, peri-peri chicken often consists of poultry such as chicken or prawns marinated in spices and hot chili peppers used either plain or together with olive oil before barbecuing/grilling over high heat.
2) Dishes Influenced by Indian Culture
There are many dishes that were brought to South Africa by Indian people, such as Malayali Curry Chicken, which is a traditional curry made with chicken. Many of these dishes include spices such as turmeric or coriander. These spices are frequently seen in South African cooking due to their abundance in India. Another dish influenced by India is Prawn Masala, which is a very popular dish in Durban. It’s basically prawns in coconut milk with vegetables. These are just two examples of how South African food has been influenced by other cultures. As you can see, there is a huge mix of different influences on South African cuisine. I hope you have enjoyed reading about how different cuisines have influenced each other in South Africa!
3) South African Meals
South African cuisine is a unique blend of native foods, as well as those brought to South Africa by later immigrants. While most South Africans enjoy a traditional South African braai (barbecue) with Biltong, dried salted meat similar to beef jerky, they also enjoy English pastries, French crepes, and many other international delights. During colonial times, only people in cities could afford these foods; now everyone has access to them. In fact, some provincial towns have better bakeries than some big cities! As more immigrants immigrate into South Africa from all over Europe and Asia, expect even more culinary diversity from one part of South Africa to another.
No matter where you are in South Africa, chances are you’ll find great food waiting for you when you get there. There’s no city like Johannesburg when it comes to restaurants; Cape Town is not far behind. If Pretoria or Durban is on your itinerary, be sure to leave time for seeking out that hole-in-the-wall that has amazing local eats! Of course, traveling around parts of rural Africa can be like traveling back in time centuries ago—even if it’s just for lunch at your next farm stay… so get ready to explore flavours few travellers will ever experience unless they come on an Overland tour, complete with butler service along with various parts of your trip.
Traditional South African food
South African food is a traditional style of cooking, developed from years of colonization, that is very similar to dishes in other parts of Africa. Most meals consist of stews with a few staple dishes which include pap (maize meal porridge), samp (cornmeal porridge), cooked dried beans or lentils, rice, meat, or fish. The cuisine resembles both French and British cooking because it was influenced by settlers from those countries. Many foods in South Africa are seasoned with curry powder for a spicy taste. A variety of cheeses are also made in South Africa.
