At last summer arrived at the British shores. The sky is a brilliant blue with no cloud in sight and the sun is warm and bright. Whiffs of grilling meat have started filling the air. What are you planning to cook on your barbecue today?
There are a lot of strange food, from a western perspective, to be had in this world. With the burgeoning population of over 7 billion worldwide and the demand for meat ever increasing in developing countries, sooner or later we are going to hit a brick wall. Meat markets already struggle to keep up with the growing demand and at some point we’ll have to seriously consider turning to insects for our fill of protein.
What caught my eye were the Witchetty Grub from Australia. It distinctly reminded me of the Mopane Worm hailing from South Africa. Come on, have a closer look. Just buy some onions to go with them and you’re set.
By now, in my 30’s, the desire to try this delicacy hasn’t overcome me and I think I’ll turn vegan before letting one reach my mouth. I’ve been told mopani worms taste like chicken. Alrighty then!
I hope I haven’t scared you off trying South African food though, because the melting pot of nationalities have so much to offer. Just check out these meat skewers, called “sosaties“, that you will find at every single “braai” (barbecue) in South Africa. Sosaties can be made from chicken, lamb, beef, pork and turkey with a range of different marinades to suit each taste. In this case, the sauce comes from the Cape Malay region and the use of apricot jam is a dead giveaway that it’s a South African recipe.
In traditional recipes it calls for lamb leg steak and mutton fat. The latter is used to keep the meat from drying out but by using only lamb shoulder matters are simplified because the meat is naturally more layered and marbled with fat than in leg. In this case I threaded onions, dried apricots and bay on the skewers, but there is nothing stopping you from adding your own colourful spin on things, e.g. different coloured peppers, mushrooms and other vegetables.
There are plenty of marinade and it’s possible for you to use even more meat. If you do end up with some marinade, don’t forget to baste the meat as it’s cooking. I returned my marinade to the hob and boiled it for another 5 minutes to cook any raw juices and bits of meat that may have remained and used it as a dipping sauce!
Curious about South African Cuisine? Check out these cookbooks!
- South African Illustrated Cookbook
- The Complete South African Cookbook
- Flavours from the Rainbow Nation
- Food and Cooking of South Africa
- Afro-vegan: Farm-fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Food Remixed
Have you ever tried South African cuisine? What is your favourite dish?
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Lamb & Apricot Sosaties
- Yield: 10 1x
Description
Author: Michelle Minnaar
Give your barbecue a Cape Malay twist.
Ingredients
- 45ml (3 tbsp) olive oil
- 3 onions, peeled and quartered
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 5cm (2in) fresh ginger, peeled and chopped finely
- 45ml (3 tbsp) curry powder
- 15ml (1 tbsp) salt
- 10ml (2 tsp) pepper
- 45ml (3 tsbp) white wine vinegar
- 150ml (5oz) apricot jam
- 45ml (3 tbsp) brown sugar
- 2 bay leaves
- 30ml (2 tbsp) cornflour
- 1 deboned lamb shoulder, weighing approximately 1kg (2.5lbs), cut into 2.5cm (1in) cubes
- 20 dried apricots
Instructions
- Heat the oil and gently fry the onions and garlic until softened.
- Add the ginger, curry, salt, pepper, vinegar, jam, sugar and bay to the pan and mix thoroughly.
- Make slurry with the cornflour and stir into the marinade.
- Bring to the boil and boil for 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
- Transfer the marinade to a large dish and let it cool down.
- Add the lamb cubes and marinate them for at least 4 hours but preferably overnight in the fridge.
- Soak the apricots in hot water to cover until plump.
- If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water too to prevent them from burning.
- Remove the meat from the marinade and thread it onto the skewers alternating between meat, apricots and onion.
- Braai (Barbecue) the sosaties over moderate coals, or grill in the oven, turning frequently, for 25 minutes, or until cooked.
Notes
- You can use lamb leg instead of shoulder. Play around with different curry powders to find your favourite and if you can’t get hold of any bay leaves, feel free to experiment with any of these bay leaf substitutes.
- Category: BBQ
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: South African
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 209.1g
- Calories: 311
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 724 mg
- Fat: 12.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 28.7 g
- Fiber: 2.6 g
- Protein: 21.3 g
Rosa
Scrumptious looking! A great combination of flavours.
Cheers,
Rosa
Miss Tracy Hanson
Tried one or two, but the Bobotie is lovely. 😀
Miss Tracy Hanson
Tried one or two, but the Bobotie is lovely. 😀
tamalyn roberts
no i havent tried any, but they look scrumptious x
Sarah (@tamingtwins)
These look wonderful Michelle. I’m pinning the recipe to try on our first barbeque of the year. It’s made me smile remembering the trip to South Africa where my husband proposed. (No Mopane worms though thank goodness..)
★★★★★
Tracy Nixon
Yes, I have tried Potjiekos and it was delicious!
★★★★★
Richard Randall
Spent a few months there many moons ago> Thing that really stands out was the breakfasts.
Paul Wilson
I don’t think I’ve ever tried South African cuisine.
Kavey
I’ve tried mopane worms, actually caterpillars, and I liked them. Even had more! But I’d rather eat your sosaties!
rominy colville
have never tried but now I am keen too!
Laura S
Nope, not tried anything yet!
Tracey Peach
I haven’t tried South African cuisine before but I’m keeping this recipe because it looks delicious!
Tracey Peach
I haven’t tried South African cuisine before but I’m keeping this recipe because it looks delicious!
caroline walliss
I have never tried South African cuisine but would like to.
Christine Dodd
I’ve never tried it, but I’m open to new ideas, so enjoyed reading your article.
Tania Atfield
Not yet, love to try
iain maciver
I don’t think I have ever tried any I,m afraid maybe time for a change
Emma Archer
I have never tried it but looks delicious!
laura banks
looks yummy but i have never actually tried anything
Pamela Gossage
Not yet but I am open to new things
frances hopkins
Nope 🙁
Ashleigh Allan
I don’t think I have!
Ashleigh Allan
I don’t think I have!
pete c
never tried, but would be happy to
kellyjo walters
no not tried but I’m game to try anything once
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry
I spent some time in South Africa a couple of year ago but never tried these. I must rectify that.
★★★★★
Hannah Ingham
I’ve never tried that type of food!
Hannah Ingham
I’ve never tried that type of food!
Paula Readings
I have to admit, I have never tried it.
Paula Readings
I have to admit, I have never tried it.
Paula Readings
I have to admit, I have never tried it.
gemma brown
not south african but i do cook a lot of north african foods. mostly moroccan
Ben Audsley
ive never tried south african food – but would love to!
Rhiannon P
No, not yet… but is looks lovely, so maybe I should be a bit more bold with my cooking and give it a go! 😀
Liz Marriott
Never tried but always happy to have a go
Mark Palmer
Never tried it
Heather T
Nope, never tried South African
Julie Booth
No- I have never tried South African food
Kat Lucas
I haven’t tried any yet
Charlene Price
I’ve never tried South African cuisine, but would love to try it!
Christine Constable
Bobotie – I learnt to cook it at school, and then had it in South Africa on our honeymoon. It’s one of my husband’s favourite meals.
Karen Scammell
No but would love to try
Bryony Brooke
No I haven’t tried anything, would be interested in vegetarian recipes.
Bryony Brooke
No I haven’t tried anything, would be interested in vegetarian recipes.
Katherine Coldicott
Not tried it.
Sarah Franks
I’ve tried a variety of both African and Carribean cuisine, and loved both. Really, I’m more a fan of West African cuisine than South African, but that’s probably just that I’ve tried more of it having lived in an area with a lot of West Africans. I plan to spend a lot more time travelling in Africa, and can’t wait to really learn the nuances of South African cuisine – I feel like such a oimbe when it comes to their food, even though I probably know more than most Europeans.
Jeanne Horak-Druiff
Mmmmm sosaties! As you know, I love maling these as a reminder of home. Mopane worms, not so much…! Always love dried fruit with my meat – you can take the girl out of South Africa but… 😉
★★★★★
leanne weir
no i havent tried any
Helen
never tried it
Elizabeth Hinds
I haven’t yet – I must try and make something!
Elizabeth Hinds
I haven’t yet – I must try and make something!
Elizabeth Hinds
I haven’t yet – I must try and make something!
Clare B.
No, I haven’t tried South African cuisine but would like too. My partner loves South Africa and keeps promising me we will go.
claire woods
I have never tried South African cuisine.
Andrew Hindley
Have tried Ostrich meat
EMMA WALTERS
NO TRIED ANY, BUT WOULD LOVE TO
Mark Chamberlin
Yes I have several friends from SA and I love “Biltong” and “boerewors”, you can get it at on the sausage stand on Norwich market!
Eleanor Wigmore
I don’t think I’ve tried any. Would love to. Tried South African wine which was very good!
Karen Lloyd
I have never tried South African cuisine but bobotie sounds delicious. A bit like a spicy shepherds pie I think.
Kristy Brown
I have never tried it but it always looks so vibrant and tasty
Kristy Brown
I have never tried it but it always looks so vibrant and tasty
Kristy Brown
I have never tried it but it always looks so vibrant and tasty
Antonia Rookley
I’ve never tried South African cuisine but it looks delicious.
Sarah Parker
would love to try
Helen Allan
Not tried anything yet but I am now tempted. Thank you!
Emily Knight
I’ve had biltong before – I love it – and I’ve made bobotie…so good!
Sarah Robertson
I haven’t tried it but would love to! 😀
Chantelle Kemp
Not yet but I love trying new food so this would be perfect!!
Chantelle Kemp
Not yet but I love trying new food so this would be perfect!!
Sue Dorking
I haven’t tried any but it looks delicious!
Joanna Sawka
I haven’t tried it yet
Denise S
never tried any but now will try to soon
★★★★
Stephanie Whitehouse
It’s new to me, but looks worth trying
donna l jones
have never tried
Alison Barker
No, not yet.
Alison Barker
No, not yet.
Emma Wolski
No never but would like to!
Kerry Kilmister
I have never tried South African food but this recipe sounds delicious so would love to try.
★★★★
Eleanor Powell
Only Borewors
Victoria Prince
I have never tried South African cuisine – it’s all new to me!
Darlene
I haven’t had a chance to try any South African cuisine. Closest I’ve got is Ethiopian.
Angie Hoggett
not tried it but would like to
Angie Hoggett
not tried it but would like to
L BUNNING
No, never tried it but hope to very soon!
Helen Garner
I can’t recall ever trying a South African dish
Sheri Darby
No i have never tried South African Cuisine – but it sounds delicious
Sheila Reeves
I have never tried south african cuisine – but looks & sounds delicious
Natalie Crossan
Haven’t tried, would love to xx
Jennifer
I love your food blog! Please check out mine and let’s connect?
swedishcavegirl.blogspot.com
May
Interesting, that looks like Malaysian Satay which is obviously another Cape Malay dish.
Renil M. George
This lamb & apricot sosaties seems more yummy than Chicken suslick.
★★★★★