South Africa is a truly unique country. Where else on earth will you find a multicultural, diverse nation that accepts and adopts people from every background with open arms as we do? We are so accommodating, we even have 11 official languages!
Yes, South Africa is one of a kind, and so too is our cuisine. With most countries, you can narrow down their cultural identity through their unique foods. Italy is all about pizza and pasta, France is pastry, the Caribbean is fish and India is curry.
The question is, how do you narrow down South Africa’s cultures through foods? We may have specific cuisines for each culture, but what makes South Africa so different is our rich history of blending cuisines to create our very own dishes.
Think of bunny chow. Such a typical dish in the Indian-orientated Durban region, we might think its origin is from India. However, it was created in the heart of our apartheid era as a way to serve food to people who weren’t allowed to dine at certain restaurants.
To celebrate South Africa’s diverse food culture, and to honour the country’s late father, Nelson Mandela, we are delving into three unique cuisines that make South Africa special.
1. Bunny Chow
Like we said before, legend tells that bunny chow comes from the apartheid era. It was a way for restaurants to serve food to people who were not allowed to dine there due to racial segregations.
The name can be quite misleading, as it doesn’t contain any bunny meat at all. What it does contain is a rich mixture of meat or vegetable stew served in a hollowed-out, half-loaf bread. The remaining bread is then used to dip into the sauce.
This amazing dish not only tastes great but is a tribute to the creative ways South Africans found to connect with one another in such enduring times.
2. Biltong & Droewors
Ask any South African living abroad what they miss the most. We can almost guarantee they will say ‘biltong and droewors’. This tasty treat is at the heart of South African cuisine and is enjoyed by South Africans across the country each day.
Buy it from your local butcher, the grocery store or even petrol stations, biltong and droewors is everywhere. Many prefer to make their own biltong and droewors using a mix of earthy spices, with some choosing to cover it in a delicious sauce.
If you are one of them, then take a look at our amazing range of sauces that you can use by clicking right here.
3. Braai
Braaing is not a new concept. Preparing food over an open fire has been around since mankind could document our processes. So, what makes braaing so South African? We took ownership of this food preparation method by mixing it with our creative traditions.
People coming together to grill food is more than just preparing a meal. It brings people of various backgrounds together under one common bonding factor, our love for great food and a great time.
Whether you are watching the sunset behind Table Mountain in Cape Town, fighting off the heat in Freestate or ‘’jolling’’ up in Jozi, you can be sure to find a group braaing somewhere. It’s a South African thing.
No matter when or where you braai, you can always count on needing two things. A great set of tongs and the best basting sauces.
Catercorp is renowned for producing delicious marinades and sauces used by well-known restaurants and a variety of franchises. We are a proudly South African company! Get in touch with us to find out how we can assist you!
