The Perfect Dishes to Compliment Your Heritage Day Feast
Category Lifestyle
What's a Heritage Day celebration without the tantalising treats and mouth-watering meals that South Africans lovingly prepare? Let's look at some of these meals to get an idea of what to put together to make your Heritage Day gathering much more special.
Before We Begin - Braai Basting Sauce
Let us introduce you to a recipe that suits your braai basting needs. This homemade basting keeps the meat moist as it cooks and is a delicious way to bring out the best flavours for your celebration.
You'll need:
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80g treacle sugar
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80ml soy sauce
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60ml balsamic vinegar
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2 bay leaves
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1 Tbsp. paprika
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1/2 Tsp. peri-peri
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1 Tsp. garlic flakes
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1 Tbsp. mixed dried herbs
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1 Tbsp. tomato paste
You'll want to heat the sugar, soy, and balsamic vinegar in a saucepan over medium heat. Allow the sugar to dissolve before adding the remaining ingredients, and cook the sauce for 2 minutes until thickened. After that, give it some time to cool down and it will be good to go, especially for your pork ribs.
(Image Source & Recipe: TheYellowCap)
Bobotie
There's no better way to start a Heritage Day celebration than with South Africa's national dish, originating back to Dutch traders who would pit stop in Cape Town. Bobotie is a tangy dish which comprises spiced minced meat, notes of sweeter apricot and topped with a thin layer of egg-based custard. If you aren't sold already, the golden yellow topping brings a delectable richness to the variety of flavours hidden beneath it, and the good only becomes better with a dollop of fruit chutney.
Meat choices vary; beef and lamb are excellent, while many vouch for ostrich. No matter what you choose, you're guaranteed a tasty plate of South African cuisine.
(Image Source & Recipe: delicious.)
Cape Malay
Cape Malay curry tends to be sweeter and rich with fruity flavours compared to their spicier counterparts in KwaZulu-Natal. The dish brings a uniquely diverse set of tastes to any table and could be just what you need to sweeten up your array of main courses. It can be made with either chicken or beef and incorporates many tantalising dried fruits and savoury toppings like garlic and onions.
As one would expect of a curry, it pairs excellently with rice (especially fragrant yellow rice) and naan bread, so take the time to figure out how you want to implement this palate startler into your Heritage Day banquet. It will make your guests feel right at home.
(Image Source & Recipe: A Spectacled Owl)
Bunny Chow
Originating from the Indian community in the coastal city of Durban, bunny chow is an intriguing dish that consists of a hollowed-out loaf of bread that's been filled with curry. While it is usually put together with mutton, just about anything goes with this dish. There's a lot of speculation regarding the meal's origin, but many believe it was developed as an easy method for workers to travel with their lunch and eat without utensils. It's a dish that is incredibly humble in concept, yet it does so much.
For those unfamiliar (don't worry - we know there's a few of you), eating bunny chow is easier than you think. Simply grab it like a sandwich and dig in. If you're eating it with the removed chunk of bread, use it to dip in the sauce.
(Image Source & Recipe: FoodForMzanzi)
Chakalaka
Now that we've got our main courses, let's take a quick gander at what can be served on the side. Chakalaka is a South African dish that has many applications on the dinner plate, from being a spicy side portion to an exhilarating topping for a boerewors roll, or you can scoop a plate full of it all by itself if that tickles your fancy. This concoction of vegetables, beans, and curry powder is easy to make but harder to keep leftovers of, so get cooking!
(Image Source & Recipe: Tasty Recipes SAPeople)
Peppermint Crisp Tart
If you thought we were done with the sweet stuff, you haven't seen anything yet. A profound family favourite, the peppermint crisp tart is a delicious pudding that gives a heartfelt and rich finish to any occasion. Assembling this bowl of caramel mint goodness isn't at all problematic due to it being a fridge tart, so don't worry for a second about the complexities of baking.
It's not hard to recognise the slim, shining green packages in the checkout aisle when we go shopping, and the taste is one we remember all too well. So, if you haven't already, why not add this sweet and creamy dessert to your Heritage Day to-do list?
(Image Source & Recipe: Agameals)
Koeksisters
A twirling stick of glazed, honeyed bronze, the koeksister is a well-known and easily recognised South African delicacy made of fried dough drenched in syrup. They're as sticky and as sweet as they sound and equally as delicious. Their sentiment in the South African community is not limited to their taste, as they've often been baked and sold by Afrikaners as a means to raise funds for schools and churches.
(Image Source & Recipe: Taste Australia)
Biltong
No introduction is needed for this chewy morsel. Our honourable mention goes to biltong, the South African alternative to jerky that manifests as flavoursome meat marinated in vinegar and spices before being left out to dry. While it is predominantly served as a lonesome snack, it is excellent as an appetiser, a side dish, or can even be used to prepare other hearty meals.
What makes it such an incredible type of snack is the sheer variety behind it, specifically in the types of meat that can be invested into the process. Beef, chicken, and even fish sometimes, but hunters and hosts of biltong tastings in certain parts of the country may enlighten you about kudu, gemsbok, springbok, and ostrich.
(Image Source & Recipe: The Boer & Butcher)
Have an Amazing Weekend
To conclude, we wish you all a Happy Heritage Day this Sunday. We know that there are many South African dishes that we did not cover, some of which may have been personal favourites of yours, and that is why we urge every one of you to go above and beyond and share your Heritage Day cuisine with those you'll be sharing the day with.
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Author: Brandon Rix