South African Culinary Delights

We are enjoying different kinds of foods here in South Africa that you would not find at the Saskatoon Co-op.  The Saturday specials listed at the local grocery store recently were boerewors at 39.99/kg, pickled ox tongue at 35.99/kg, chicken braai pack at 19.99/kg and marinated chicken flatties at 17.99/kg.  Being a good MCCer I chose the chicken flatties.  Now, what is a chicken flattie you might ask.  It is literally a flattened chicken with back bone and sternum removed, which comes in a variety of marinades in a vacuum sealed bag. The Mediterranean marinaded flattie I chose was braaied (barbecued) to perfection! 

Chicken Flattie



Many meat sections of grocery stores and butchers also have rows of various sosaties.  These are skewers of meat (traditionally lamb or mutton) marinated in various sauces.  The chicken sosaties in lemon and herb sauce we had last week were “divine”!

Perusing the menu across the street at the News Cafe, you will find grilled haloumi with avo, brinjals, and peppadews on rocket.  If you order this you might be surprised to see grilled cheese, avocados, eggplant and small, sweet peppers with arugula (wild lettuce with long narrow leaves) on your plate.

My South African cookbook has a recipe for Spicy Lentil Soup that calls for pork trotters.  Hmmm, is that really what I think it is!  I’m sure it would be flavourful.

Malva Pudding



The London Pie Company is everywhere.  However, you won’t find lemon meringue, apple or coconut cream.  Pies generally refer to meat pies as in chicken, steak or lamb, which are wonderful, if you aren’t worried about fat content. 

The best South African dessert or “pudding” is malva pudding – a cross between steamed pudding and cake with a delicious rich, creamy sauce.

The array of tropical fruits is incredible - pineapples, bananas, granadillas, mangoes, lychees, and naartjies, besides the common northern fruits like apples, grapes, plums, peaches and pears!  My favourite is papaya which is sweet, juicy and melon-like.

Bon appétit!  Lekker eet!  Thokoleza ukudla!