Top 15 South African delights you must try on your next visit - “African dishes that will change your life”

Biltong is a quintessential South African snack made from dried, cured meat, typically beef or game like kudu or ostrich, it is seasoned with salt, pepper, coriander, and vinegar before being air-dried. It's a favourite snack for locals and visitors alike, offering a chewy, savoury experience that packs a protein punch. 

Boerewors is a traditional South African sausage, known for its rich flavour and unique blend of spices, including coriander, cloves, and nutmeg. Made from a mixture of beef and pork (sometimes lamb), it’s a must-try at any braai (South African barbecue). 

Despite its name, Bunny Chow does not involve rabbits. This street food originated in the Indian community in Durban and consists of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with spicy curry. Typically, mutton, chicken, or bean curry is used, and the bread absorbs the flavorful sauce, making for a hearty and delicious meal. When searching for the best restaurants in Gaborone that serve up classics like this, one of the top locations is Avani Gaborone Resort & Casino because of the variety of local dishes available.

Bobotie is a Cape Malay dish and a beloved comfort food in South Africa. It consists of spiced minced meat, typically beef or lamb, baked with a mixture of curry, dried fruits (such as raisins), and an egg custard topping. 

Vetkoek, which translates to "fat cake," is a doughy, deep-fried bread that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It can be served sweet or savoury. For a savoury version, it is often stuffed with minced meat or biltong. 

Melktert, or milk tart, is a creamy dessert with a custard-like filling made from milk, sugar, and eggs, set in a thin pastry crust. The filling is lightly sweetened and flavoured with cinnamon, making it a light and comforting dessert. 

Chakalaka is a spicy vegetable relish, typically made with onions, tomatoes, carrots, beans, and chillies. It’s often served as a side dish with pap (a type of maize porridge) and grilled meat at braais.

Pap, which means "porridge," can be enjoyed in a variety of ways: firm and dense (known as stywe pap), or soft and porridge-like (known as slap pap), often paired with a tomato-based gravy, chakalaka, or meat.

Sosaties are South African kebabs made from marinated meat (usually lamb or chicken), skewered and grilled over an open flame. The marinade often includes a blend of spices, garlic, and apricot jam, giving the sosaties a sweet and savoury flavour. 

Malva pudding is a sweet and sticky dessert that originated from the Cape Dutch community. Made with apricot jam and a rich, spongy batter, the pudding is soaked in a hot cream sauce after baking, making it moist and indulgent. 

Cape Malay curry is a fragrant and mildly spicy dish influenced by the Malaysian and Indonesian communities in South Africa. The curry is made with a blend of spices, including turmeric, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon, and often includes dried fruits like apricots or raisins for sweetness. 

Koeksisters are a sweet, syrupy treat made by frying braided dough and soaking it in sticky sugar syrup. There are two types: the Afrikaner version, which is crisp and syrupy, and the Cape Malay version, which is spiced and dusted with coconut. 

Potjiekos is a traditional South African stew cooked slowly over a fire in a three-legged cast iron pot, known as a potjie. The stew is typically made with meat (often lamb or beef), vegetables, and potatoes, and is flavoured with herbs and spices. 

Snoek is a type of fish commonly found off the coast of South Africa, and it is often smoked and served at braais. Smoked snoek is flaky, flavorful, and usually served with apricot jam or garlic butter, which complements the smokiness of the fish.

To round off your culinary tour of South Africa, you must try an Amarula Don Pedro, a dessert drink made with creamy Amarula liqueur, vanilla ice cream, and a splash of whiskey making it the perfect end to a meal.