The delightfulness of the Cape Malay cuisine in South Africa with its delicate use of exiting mixtures of herbs and spices is pure magic. Some favourites from the Cape Malay kitchen are,...

INTRODUCTION	YELLOW RICE
BOBOTIE	FRIED FRUIT AND VENISON STEWS
SOSATIES	CAPE MALAY CURRIES
WATERBLOMMETJIE BREDIE	DENNINGVLEIS (DENNING MEAT)

A true to type descendent of the Cape Malay slaves imported by the Dutch into the Cape Colony in the 17th century - Cape Malay cuisine
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Introduction,...

The Cape Malay people as we know them today, are descendents of the slaves that were brought into the Cape Colony by the Dutch settlers in the 17th century. Although called Malayans, most of them came from Indonesia, Madagascar and Srilanka in the Far East, bringing along their sweet and sour culinary traditions and their creativity in the use fragrant herbs and spices.


Typical Cape Malay houses in the "Bo Kaap" (Cape Malay quarter) in Cape Town - Cape Malay cuisine
No one would have thought that they would have such a large influence on South Africa’s cuisine as they did. The magic of the Cape Malay cuisine in South Africa is the delicate use of exciting mixtures of spices and the use of fruit cooked with meat, marrying sweet and savoury flavours, with hints of spice, curry and other seasonings.


Cape Malay magic of fragrant herbs and spices - Cape Malay cuisine
The settlers in the cape colony made most of them work in their households and because many of them were experienced cooks, they soon were in charge of the family kitchen, introducing their own traditional cuisine. They became very creative in adapting the local dishes with their own ingredients, using complex herb and spice mixtures with sweet and sour sauces turn the simple settler stews into delicious bredies.

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Bobotie,...


Bobotie, an internationally renown Cape Malay dish - Cape Malay cuisine
One of the most famous delicacies from the Cape Malay kitchen is "Bobotie". Traditionally this was a "Monday" dish, made from the leftovers of Sunday’s cooking. The "Bobotie" recipe knows hundreds of variants. An essential ingredient is "begrafnisrys" (funeral rice), rice with turmeric and raisins, so called because it was often served as a funeral meal by the Cape Malayans.

Although introduced by the Cape malays, Bobotie has become highly popular in South Africa and is virtually being regarded as an indigenous dish. A littler soaked bread is mixed with minced meat, preferably lamb and flavoured with a mixture of fried onions, curry, apricot jam, fried almond shavings and sultanas. The addition of lemon leaves ( or alternatively lemon juice) gives bobotie its distinctive aroma. Halfway the cooking it is covered with a topping of egg custard to give it its attractive golden crust on top.

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Sosaties,...


Sosaties, another top hit from the Cape Malay kitchen - Cape Malay cuisine
A good example of the Malay influence on South Africa’s cuisine. The word sosatie comes from the Indonesian words "sesate" (skewered meat) and "sate" (spicy sauce). They are made with small pieces of lamb threaded on thin wooden skewers, with small cubes of bacon in between. Un like kebabs, "sosaties" are marinated in a curry marinade for up to two days. A popular delicacy at most South African "braais" (barbecues).

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Waterblommetjie bredie,...

South Africa’s famous "Waterblommetjie" (water lilly) - Cape Malay cuisine
A famous and unique South African culinary experience. “Waterblommetjies” are found in shallow dams and glens of the Boland region in the Cape from about May to November. With typical Malay creativity it is combined with the slightly tangy taste of sorrel and the full-bodied flavour of mutton into a delicious stew with a fine balance between salt, savoury and somewhat sour tastes.

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Yellow rice,...


Tasty yellow rice - Cape Malay cuisine
Very tasty with the lovely smell of cinnamon sticks, turmeric and crushed cardamom pods. served with their rich curries, yellow rice is further enhanced with raisins and fried almond shavings.

Fried fruit and venison stews,...

Typical Cape Malay dishes - Cape Malay cuisine
Another taste happening from the cape loved by many. The finely balanced sweet-sour taste of the fruit complements and mellows the flavour of the meat to make it a delicate whole.

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Cape Malay curries,...


Curry and Rice, a highly popular, almost indigenous dish in South Africa - Cape Malay cuisine
Served with a variety of sambals and atjars, Cape Malay curries are famous for their full-bodied flavour. Making a colourful display of all kinds of local vegetables, meat and fish, they are not as hot as the curries used in the Indian kitchen.

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Denningvleis (denning meat),...


"Denningvleis" (Denning meat), a delicious Cape malay speciality - Cape Malay cuisine
A hearty meat stew flavoured with bay leaves and tamarind or lemon juice with an exciting sweet-sour flavour. The word Denning originated from the Javanese "dendeng", the meat of the water buffalo. Nowadays however, cooks mostly use mutton.

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