International Cuisine

Exploring the world through food.

South African Biltong Recipe (Dried Spiced Meat)

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South African Biltong is a beloved snack throughout  the entire country.  It is somewhat similar to a beef jerky however the meat is air-dried as opposed to smoked.   It is also flavored with a unique sweetness from brown sugar,  spiced up with coriander, pepper and vinegar.  These flavors come together to make a wonderful bite that truly grows on you.  Once you start, you want another and another.

A bowl full of biltongSouth African biltong was made out of necessity.  For centuries it was a way to have protein along the trails when refrigeration had not been invented.  Today it is mainly made out of beef as it is abundant but back in the day it was a way to cure meat especially from large African animals like kudu , springbok and wildebeest. 

The word biltong comes from the Dutch, bil (buttock) and tong (strip). 

Back in the day it was made during the cold winter months when the risk of bacterial mold would be at a minimum.  It turns out the marination in vinegar and the spices especially coriander help to reduce bacteria as well. 

Today South African biltong is made all over the world and beloved as a delicious snack.  Fair warning it is addicting.  You can easily make it at home and you should, a lovely treat indeed! I used these handy hooks to dry the beef. You will also need a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder and a fan.

If you would like to learn more about South Africa be sure to check out “Our Journey to South Africa”.  You will also find more authentic South African recipes like Bobotie, yellow rice, and melktert.

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world so you don’t miss a thing,  it’s free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.

Please note that this page contains affiliate links in which I will earn a small commission however, it will in no way affect the price you pay. I thank you for your support!

A bowl full of biltong
4.1 from 10 votes
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South African Biltong

A delicious South African iconic treat you can make at home

Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine South African
Prep Time 30 minutes
marinating and drying time 4 days
Total Time 4 days 30 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 213 kcal
Author Darlene at International Cuisine

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs top rump beef
  • 3 Tablespoons vinegar malt or cider
  • 2 Tablespoons salt coarse
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper ground
  • 1 Tablespoon coriander seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon Brown sugar

Instructions

  1. In a dry pan toast the coriander seeds. Remove and grind with a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.

  2. Prepare the meat by using a sharp knife and cut into one inch thick pieces along the grain of the meat and place into a glass container.

  3. Combine all the spices including the vinegar and rub into the meat. Cover and let the biltong cure overnight in the refrigerator.

  4. Remove the meat and pat dry taking care to not remove the seasoning.

  5. Put each biltong onto a hook and hang it in a well aired, ventilated space with a fan blowing . Take care not to set the fan right at the meat. Make sure the pieces of the meat are not touching and place paper towels underneath the meat to catch any excess liquid.

  6. It will take about four days for the meat to cure. You should not be able to feel any give in the meat when you pinch it, that is the indication it is done.

  7. Once cured, you can cut the pieces into bite size pieces and savor the biltong!

Nutrition Facts
South African Biltong
Amount Per Serving
Calories 213 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 78mg26%
Sodium 1837mg80%
Potassium 384mg11%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 15IU0%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 24mg2%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

South African Bobotie (The National Dish )

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South African Bobotie is the beloved national dish. It is pronounced ba-boor-tea.  A true comfort food always served with yellow rice called geelrys.  The dish is a minced -curried meat casserole with a delicious egg custard topping. It is believed to have originated from the Cape Malays. 

A slice of Bobotie

The origin of the name bobotie  is disputed, however the Afrikaans etymological dictionary claims that probable origin comes from the Malayan word boemboe, meaning curry spices. The first recipe for South African bobotie appeared in a Dutch cookbook back in the early 1600’s. 

As the national dish, it is no surprise that there are all sorts of recipes for it.  Each family having their own sacred recipe. The bottom line is it can be made with multiple types of meat like beef, lamb or turkey. It can be spiced up in all sorts of ways but generally speaking curry of some type is used.  It also has some type of dried fruit like raisins or apricots.  Additionally South African bobotie can be garnished with walnuts, chutney and bananas.  Sambal is typically served alongside.  When you make this one feel free to include what you love, you truly can’t go wrong.

Did you know that two Nobel Peace Prize winners lived on the same street in the town of Soweto in South Africa?  They were Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, both recognized for their work on apartheid and human rights.  If you would like to learn more about more be sure to check out “Our Journey to South Africa”,  there you will also find more authentic recipes like biltong, geelrys and melktert. 

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world so you don’t miss a thing,  it’s free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.

Please note that this page contains affiliate links in which I will earn a small commission however, it will in no way affect the price you pay. I thank you for your support!

A slice of Bobotie
5 from 2 votes
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South African Bobotie

The national dish of South Africa, a flavorful curried meat casserole you will love

Course Main Dish
Cuisine South African
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 372 kcal
Author Darlene at International Cuisine

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 medium onions diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 2 slices bread
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef lamb or turkey
  • 1 large apple grated
  • 1/3 cup fruit chutney
  • 1/4 cup sultanas or raisins
  • 1 lemon juice and zest
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • salt and pepper to taste

Egg Custard Topping

  • 3 eggs
  • 5-6 bay leaves
  • ½ cup cream
  • ½ cup milk

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven at 350 deg
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together milk and bread to soften it. Set aside.
  3. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish
  4. Heat up a large skillet over medium heat, add butter until melted, add in onions and garlic. Saute for about 3 minutes just until soft and fragrant.
  5. Next stir in the spices: curry powder, turmeric, ground cumin, coriander, thyme and oregano.
  6. Add ground meat and stirring constantly to break it up, cook until beef is no longer pink or slightly brown. Remove from the stove.
  7. Add to a bowl, followed by bread mixture, chutney, grated apple, lemon juice and zest, and Worcestershire – add sultanas or raisins. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix all together well.
  8. Add beef mixture into greased casserole dish. Using a spoon press the beef mixture down. This helps keep the egg mixture on top and forms a nice custard top when baked,
  9. Bake in the oven for around 40-50 minutes.
  10. While bobotie is baking, mix together eggs, cream, milk and a ¼ teaspoon of turmeric.

  11. Take the meat out of the oven, pour the egg mixture over the beef. Arrange the bay leaves on top.

  12. Bake for another 20 minutes (check after 15 minutes ) or until the egg mixture has set.

  13. Remove and let it rest for a few minutes then serve with yellow rice and vegetables.
Nutrition Facts
South African Bobotie
Amount Per Serving
Calories 372 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 163mg54%
Sodium 206mg9%
Potassium 612mg17%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 29g58%
Vitamin A 480IU10%
Vitamin C 11mg13%
Calcium 99mg10%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

South African Yellow Rice (Geelrys)

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South African yellow rice is a delicious spiced rice.  It gets its yellow color and lovely flavor from turmeric and curry.  It is called geelrys in Afrikaans, which literally translates to yellow rice.  South African yellow rice is always served with the national dish called bobotie.  It also makes a wonderful side dish for just about any occasion.

 

This South African yellow rice recipe is simple and cooks up easily on the stove top. You should use basmati rice for this one.    Additionally, this recipe calls for sultana raisins they are dried white grapes, they are sweet and really elevate the dish.  If you don’t have them you can of course use regular raisins.

There are different recipes for this beloved dish, some add ginger and onion, some add cinnamon etc.  I made mine without the brown sugar and using a combination of water and chicken broth,  it turned out perfect.

Did you know that South Africa is one of the topmost wine producers in the world?  South Africa has been producing wine since 1659.  South Africa is home to the longest continuous wine route in the world. 

If you would like to learn more about South Africa be sure to check out “Our Journey to South Africa”.  You will also find more authentic South African recipes like Bobotie, biltong, and melktert.

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world so you don’t miss a thing,  it’s free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.

Please note that this page contains affiliate links in which I will earn a small commission however, it will in no way affect the price you pay. I thank you for your support!

5 from 2 votes
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South African Yellow Rice (Geelrys)

A lovely side dish for any occasion but always alongside the national dish called bobotie.

Course Side Dish
Cuisine South African
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 254 kcal
Author Darlene at International Cuisine

Ingredients

  • 1 cup basmati rice rinsed & drained
  • 1 tablespoon butter or oil
  • 1/4 cup sultanas
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional
  • 2 cups chicken broth or water or combination of both
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat the butter or oil in a saucepan over medium heat.

  2. Add the rice and gently stir until rice begins to turn opaque.
  3. Add sultanas, turmeric, curry, and sugar if using and stir until well mixed in.

  4. Slowly stir in chicken broth or water or combination of the two and raise heat to medium-high. Add salt and pepper to taste.

  5. Bring to a boil then turn the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid.

  6. Simmer for 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.

Nutrition Facts
South African Yellow Rice (Geelrys)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 254 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 65mg3%
Potassium 235mg7%
Carbohydrates 49g16%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 87IU2%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 22mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

South African Melktert (Milk Tart )

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South African melktert is an extremely popular dessert.  It is a milk tart that is not too sweet, creamy and delicious, it would make a lovely dessert for any occasion.  It is also surprisingly easy to make and kids love it too!

A creamy piece of melktertHaving a tart pan makes it super easy to make and serve, this is the one I like to use.  The nice thing about this recipe is you likely have everything you need to make it on hand.  Easy to pull together.  You can even use a store bought pie pastry if you are pressed for time. 

Did you know that South Africa is home to one of the most luxurious trains in the world?  It is called the Rovos Rail and guaranteed you would find melktert on the menu.  It is truly a beloved dessert throughout the country.

If you would like to learn more about more be sure to check out “Our Journey to South Africa”,  there you will also find more authentic recipes like biltong, geelrys and bobotie . 

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world so you don’t miss a thing,  it’s free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.

Please note that this page contains affiliate links in which I will earn a small commission however, it will in no way affect the price you pay. I thank you for your support!

A creamy piece of meltert
5 from 2 votes
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South African Melktert (milk tart)

A delicious and super easy creamy dessert recipe you will love to serve for just about any occasion.

Course Dessert
Cuisine South African
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Freezer time / chill time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 376 kcal
Author Darlene at International Cuisine

Ingredients

Pastry Crust

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 9 Tablespoons unsalted cold butter cut into small pieces
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 Tablespoon water

Milk Filling

  • 2 1/4 cups milk
  • 2 Tablespoon butter
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 Cinnamon stick
  • cinnamon for garnish

Instructions

Pastry Crust

  1. Grease a 9-inch pie pan with a removable bottom Set aside
  2. In a bowl add flour, salt and sugar, mix ingredients.
  3. Add in butter mix with a hand mixer.
  4. Add egg and water mix until a dough forms.
  5. Remove dough place on a work surface - knead just enough to incorporate all the dough. Working the dough as little as possible.
  6. Lightly press the dough on the prepared tart pan – working from the center up until the bottom and sides are fully covered with pastry.
  7. Place pie pan in the freezer and freeze for at least 30 minutes or more this helps prevent the dough from rising.
  8. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven
  9. Bake crust for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the crust is dry and golden browned. Set aside

Milk Filling

  1. Place saucepan over medium heat, add butter, cinnamon and milk -bring to a boil and remove from the heat.
  2. In another bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, sugar, vanilla extract- whisk in eggs until smooth. Gently whisk into the saucepan making sure there are no lumps
  3. Now return the pan back on the stove – keep stirring constantly until in starts to bubble.
  4. Cook for about 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat, remove the cinnamon stick and pour mixture into the baked pastry shell Sprinkle with cinnamon. Chill until ready to be served.
Nutrition Facts
South African Melktert (milk tart)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 376 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Cholesterol 112mg37%
Sodium 155mg7%
Potassium 139mg4%
Carbohydrates 43g14%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 685IU14%
Calcium 99mg10%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.