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Biltong is a traditional beef snack that is cured in a unique way. The word comes from the Dutch bil, meaning hind quarter, and tong, meaning strip, in this case - a strip of meat. Although it looks similar to American beef jerky, it is quite different in flavor and the method of preparation.
The beef is dried with vinegar which cures the meat and adds layers of texture and flavor. It is seasoned with salt, pepper, and coriander, and the meat is much thicker than beef jerky. Originally, it was created out of necessity as a survival food when the Dutch settlers arrived in South Africa.
MOST ICONIC Biltong
Vetkoek is an iconic South African street food item consisting of deep-fried yeast buns that are usually filled with cheese, curry, or fruit jams. It can be served as a small snack, for breakfast or lunch. The ball-shaped dough is made from salt, yeast, and flour.
When served at a South African braai, vetkoek is often served with boerewors, a traditional sausage. You can also serve them as they are, or with a cup of tea on the side.
Koeksister is a sweet South African snack with a sticky appearance. It is prepared by frying braided dough strips in oil, then dunking them into a cold sugary syrup. These sticky treats are sold on every major street in South Africa, and today they can even be found in most supermarkets.
It is recommended to top them with cinnamon or lemon juice before consumption.
MOST ICONIC Koeksister
View moreDroëwors is a South African dried jerky sausage based on the popular boerewors sausage. It's made from beef or mutton with sheep tail fat, coriander, vinegar, and various spices. It's sometimes enriched with garlic or chili peppers. These thin sausages are dried quickly to mimic the conditions of hot South African weather.
Some people use pork and veal instead of beef, but it's not recommended as that meat goes rancid more quickly when dried. The traditional droëwors has a long shelf life and it can be frozen for months. It's usually consumed as a quick and nutritious snack.
Pampoenkoekie is a South African dessert consisting of fluffy pumpkin fritters. The fritters are made with cooked and puréed pumpkin, flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs, milk, and salt. When golden-brown and fully cooked, they are traditionally drizzled over with a thick and sticky caramel syrup.
Since they are a little bit savory and a little bit sweet, pampoenkoekies can be served either as breakfast, snack, dessert, or a side dish.
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