Recipe Ideas and Cooking Inspiration for Every Kitchen
We're so glad you're here. This little corner of the internet is for anyone and everyone who loves food or just needs to figure out what to make for dinner tonight. So, have a look around, find a recipe that sparks your interest, and let's get cooking.
Potato Salad
Creamy, tangy, and perfectly seasoned, this classic potato salad is a staple for any picnic or family gathering. Tender chunks of red or Yukon Gold potatoes are tossed with a flavorful dressing, crisp celery, zesty pickles, and fresh herbs for a satisfying, crowd-pleasing side.
Kachumbari
This fresh East African salad tomatoes, onions, cucumber, and herbs with a light, zesty dressing. A little jalapeño adds a mild kick, while lime brightens every bite. Enjoy it as a side dish, a topping for grilled meats, or layered with avocado and beefsteak tomatoes for a heartier version. Crisp, tangy, and full of flavor, it’s a refreshing way to bring vibrant color to the table.
Biltong
This traditional South African snack is made by air-curing spiced beef until perfectly dried. Silverside beef is marinated with vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and a fragrant blend of coriander, black pepper, and optional chili. After curing, it is hung to dry slowly, developing deep, savory flavors with a hint of tang. Once sliced, it makes an addictive high-protein snack that keeps well when stored correctly.
Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Known as "Crunchies" in South Africa, these simple oatmeal cookie bars are a true delight. They have an incredible nutty flavor and a satisfyingly crisp texture, making them the perfect treat for any time of day. Enjoy them as a quick breakfast on the go, a midday snack, or a sweet dessert. They are easy to make and guaranteed to disappear fast!
Peppermint Crisp Pudding
A beloved South African classic, this no-bake dessert is incredibly easy to make and impossible to resist. Layers of crispy cookies, a silky-smooth caramel and cream mixture, and a generous amount of crunchy peppermint crisp chocolate create a symphony of textures and flavors. It’s the perfect treat to prepare ahead of time and is guaranteed to be a hit with family and friends.
Crepe Pancakes with Caramel and Banana
These pancakes are more like delicate, thin crepes, perfect for filling with rich and sweet toppings. This recipe creates a velvety batter that cooks into light, pliable pancakes ready to be filled with gooey caramel and fresh banana slices. Served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s a simple yet luxurious dessert that feels like a treat from a Parisian café.
Boerewors Burger with Avocado, Bacon & Peppadew
Take your burger game to a whole new level with a South African twist! This unique recipe replaces the traditional beef patty with a flavorful boerewors patty, a South African sausage known for its bold, spicy flavor. Topped with crispy bacon, creamy avocado, and a pop of tangy peppadew, this burger is an explosion of textures and tastes. It's a truly gourmet experience that comes together in minutes.
One-Pan Bobotie Casserole
This South African classic brings together fragrant spices, tender beef, and a creamy egg custard topping baked in a single pan. The sweet touch of apricot jam balances the warm curry flavors, while golden raisins add little bursts of sweetness. It’s hearty, comforting, and makes an excellent midweek dinner served with fluffy rice.
Chocolate Marshmallow Sweetie Pies
Recreate a classic childhood treat with this elegant, from-scratch recipe. These delightful pies feature a buttery, tender biscuit base topped with a fluffy, homemade marshmallow filling, all enrobed in a rich layer of melted chocolate. It’s the perfect combination of textures and flavors, taking a nostalgic favorite and elevating it with high-quality ingredients for a truly special dessert.
Smoked Snoek Pate
This is a wonderfully simple and incredibly flavorful take on a traditional South African pate. Smoked snoek, a firm and oily fish, is transformed into a light and fluffy dip by blending it with a rich and tangy cream cheese mixture. It’s perfect for a party, a light lunch, or a delicious snack. The balance of salty fish with the creamy base and a hint of fresh parsley and zesty lemon is simply irresistible.
Malva Pudding with Cranberries & Ginger
Experience a delightful twist on a classic South African dessert. This Malva pudding is known for its incredible spongy texture and sweet, sticky apricot glaze. With the addition of zesty ginger and tart cranberries, this recipe elevates the traditional comfort food into a dessert with a complex and warming flavor profile that is absolutely irresistible. Best served warm, drenched in its rich, buttery sauce.
Easy Cape Seed Loaf Whole Wheat Bread
This is a South African simple and foolproof whole wheat bread recipe that comes out perfect every time. It’s packed with healthy seeds for a hearty texture and nutty flavor, making it a fantastic staple for your kitchen. The result is a dense, rustic loaf that’s great on its own or toasted to perfection. No need for complex kneading—just a little stirring and patience is all it takes to bake this delicious loaf.
Chapati
Flaky, layered flatbreads made with flour, ghee, and warm water, kneaded into a soft dough, rested, and rolled before being cooked until golden. These homemade chapatis are rich, chewy, and perfect for pairing with curries, stews, or enjoyed on their own straight from the pan.
Koeksisters with a Spicy Syrup
Golden plaited dough, deep-fried until crisp and then plunged into an aromatic spiced syrup – this is the South African koeksister at its finest. The syrup, infused with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and citrus, gives each bite a fragrant sweetness with just a whisper of spice. Best enjoyed fresh and slightly sticky, they’re a true indulgence.
Braaibroodjie Jaffles
A twist on the South African braaibroodjie, these jaffles wrap all the goodness of cheese, tomato, and onion inside crisp golden bread cooked in a jaffle iron. Perfectly gooey in the center and smoky from the coals or stove, they’re comfort food at its best.
Muesli Rusks with Oats & Raisins
These delicious rusks are a healthy twist on a classic, packed with hearty oats, a variety of seeds, and dried fruit. The dough comes together in one bowl, making the process simple and straightforward. After baking into a large slab, the rusks are cut into pieces and then slowly dried in a low oven overnight to achieve that perfect, crunchy texture that is so great for dunking in coffee or tea.
Malva Pudding with Ginger & Pears Poached in Rooibos Tea
This recipe gives a classic South African Malva pudding a delightful and unique twist. Tender pears are first poached in a fragrant rooibos tea syrup with warm spices, then nestled into a ginger-infused Malva batter before baking. The result is an incredibly moist and flavorful dessert that combines the traditional, spongy texture of Malva pudding with the spiced, fruity notes of the pears and a hint of ginger.
Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie
This chicken pie is the epitome of comfort food, but with a shortcut that makes it surprisingly easy to prepare. Using a store-bought rotisserie chicken means all the hard work is done for you. The rich, creamy filling is loaded with tender chicken, savory bacon, earthy mushrooms, and sweet leeks, all brought together in a delicious, well-seasoned sauce. Topped with a flaky puff pastry crust, this pie is guaranteed to be a hit.
Peri Peri Prawns
These pan-fried peri peri prawns are absolutely fantastic, featuring a rich and spicy marinade that gives them an incredible depth of flavor. The prawns are marinated in a bold mixture of peri peri sauce, white wine, garlic, and a hint of fresh chili, then quickly pan-fried to perfection. The final touch of brandy flambé adds a dramatic flair and a subtle, smoky finish to this impressive dish.
Vanilla Amarula Bundt Cake
This is an incredibly moist and decadent Amarula-infused bundt cake that will be a showstopper at any gathering. It starts with a rich, buttery cake batter, which is then brushed with a simple Amarula syrup to add extra moisture and a touch of flavor. The grand finale is a velvety milk chocolate Amarula ganache that takes this dessert to the next level.