Local is Lekker: Traditional Dishes to Warm You Up this Winter

Warm Up This Winter

South African winters are something to behold: short, sunny days and long, cold nights spent huddling ’round the fire indulging in plenty belly-filling foods. Summer may bring the warmth, but winter brings the chance to savour some of the best cuisines our country has to offer! Here are five delicious dishes to warm you up this winter.

Spicy Tomato Soup with Chakalaka

Traditional tomato soup is anything but boring when it’s served alongside a bowl of South Africa’s favourite spicy relish. Great as a starter or main meal served with crusty bread, this is one sure-fire way to banish those winter blues!

Recipe credit: foodandhome.co.za

What you will need:

For the chakalaka

• 15ml olive or avocado oil
• 500ml carrots, grated
• 1 red pepper, seeded and julienned
• 1 green pepper, seeded and julienned
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 5ml dried chilli flakes
• 10ml ground paprika
• 1 x 410g tin baked beans in tomato sauce
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the soup

• 80ml olive or avocado oil
• 450g onion, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 20ml ground cumin
• 10ml harissa paste
• 30ml tomato paste
• 2 x 400g tins chopped plum tomatoes in tomato juice
• 2,5cm piece fresh ginger
• 10ml castor sugar
• 2 litres good-quality vegetable stock
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• fresh thyme, to garnish

How to make it:

1. For the chakalaka, heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the carrots and peppers for about 2 minutes. Add the tomato and cook for a further 2 minutes. Mix in the chilli, paprika and seasoning and cook for 1 minute. Mix in the beans, heat through and set aside.
2. For the soup, heat the oil in a large saucepan and sauté the onion until soft but not coloured, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin and cook for 30 seconds. Add the harissa and tomato paste and fry for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, ginger, sugar and stock. Season and bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 20 minutes.
3. Allow to cool a little before blending in a food processor until smooth. Sieve and return to the pot. Bring to the boil and serve hot with the chakalaka on the side, garnished with fresh thyme.

Mushroom Bobotie

Bobotie is an all-time favourite, only this time the mince is swapped out for mushrooms which still give this much-loved dish a wonderfully meaty flavour. It’s the perfect thing to serve for vegetarian friends and family or as part of your next #MeatlessMonday meal.

Recipe credit: food24.com

What you will need:

• 200g mixed mushrooms, finely chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 chilli, chopped
• 50g peanuts, chopped
• 2 sprigs coriander, chopped
• 125ml fresh cream
• 65ml beef stock
• 3 eggs
• salt and pepper to taste

How to make it:

1. Melt the butter and sauté the onions, garlic, mushrooms and chilli.
2. Add the peanuts and coriander.
3. Pour in the cream and beef stock and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Pour the mixture into a shallow baking tray.
5. Whisk the eggs and pour them over the mixture.
6. Cook in the oven at 180 °C until the eggs are set.
7. To serve, cut into squares.

Creamy Biltong Pasta

Mac & cheese can’t compete with linguini topped with a creamy biltong and mushroom sauce. The biltong gives this dish a proudly South African twist, adding substance that’s sure to satisfy the biggest of meat lovers. It’s pure comfort in a bowl and is also incredibly easy to whip up at the end of a long, cold day.

Recipe credit: Esther Malan, Carmen Petersen and Bernice van der Merwe

What you will need:

• 15 ml olive oil
• 250g button mushrooms
• 500ml cream
• 200g moist biltong, sliced
• 15ml fresh parsley, chopped
• 250g linguini pasta
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

How to make it:

1. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the mushrooms for a few minutes or until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Add the cream and bring the mixture to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken slightly.
3. Add the biltong and parsley and stir for a few minutes.
4. Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and toss with the biltong sauce.

Chocolate Malva Pudding

Is there anything better than a classic malva pudding? Only this gorgeous chocolate malva! Whether you’re having guests over or would simply like to indulge a little, let this irresistible pudding be your dessert of choice all winter long.

Recipe credit: Patricia Wood

What you will need:

For the sauce

• 375ml fresh cream
• 150g sugar
• 125g butter
• 50ml cocoa
• 1ml salt

For the batter

• 30g butter
• 75g sugar
• 1 egg
• 45ml smooth apricot jam
• 5ml bicarbonate of soda
• 125ml milk
• 120g cake flour
• 50ml cocoa
• 1ml salt
• 20ml white spirit vinegar
• vanilla bean ice cream, to serve (optional)

How to make it:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. For the sauce, mix ingredients in a pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and stir for 2 minutes.
3. For the batter, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add egg and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the jam.
4. Dissolve bicarbonate of soda in the milk.
5. Sift the flour, cocoa and salt in a separate bowl. Add to the egg mixture, alternating with the milk.
6. Add the vinegar and mix well.
7. Pour the mixture into four greased 250ml individual ramekins or a 2-litre ovenproof dish. Pour over half of the sauce, cover and bake, about 30 minutes.
8. Pour over the rest of the sauce and serve with ice cream.

Amarula Hot Chocolate

Now here’s a beverage to warm you up from the inside out. With just the right amount of kick, thanks to the country’s most popular liqueur, this delightfully decadent drink will take the edge off a cold winter’s day.

According to thetravelbite.com, all you need to do is combine hot chocolate mix and sugar with ½ cup of hot water and ¼ cup of Amarula. Why settle for plain old hot chocolate when there’s this simply delicious alternative!

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Which local dish do you love to make for your family during winter? Let us know by getting in touch on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.