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3. Seafood cuisine

The seafood cuisine in South Africa is blessed with the country's long and varied coastline. Next to its fantastic scenery it supplies us with an astonishing amount and variety of seafood fresh from the sea.

The overwhelming range of different seafood dishes in South Africa and the straight from the sea freshness has become legendary.

No wonder South Africans are fond of their seafood, whether as the main dish of a candle-lit dinner, as a fish and chips lunch or for breakfast as haddock or kippers in the English tradition.

The fish and chips in South Africa are the freshest you will ever eat.

No one will argue that meat dishes are very popular in South Africa, especially amongst South Africans of European descent.

There is an old joke that says that a "Boer" eats mutton, beef and bacon for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and when he feels like having some vegetables, he eats chicken. But that is no longer true.

Learn more about some of the mouth watering seafood delicacies you can expect to find on South African menus;

Abundance of seafood in South Africa
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Abundance of seafood,...

With a coastline that borders both the Atlantic and Indian oceans, fresh seafood is abundant in South Africa and an astonishing assortment of fish and shellfish have found their way to the cooking pots and "braaivleis" (barbecue) fires of South Africans of all cultures.


Astonishing variety to choose from
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The large variety fish and shellfish caught in South African waters includes kingklip, snoek, red roman, hake, cod, sole, tuna, to name some of the more popular ones.

Other much loved delicacies from the sea are abalone, oysters, mussels, prawns, langoustines, calamari, shrimps and crayfish (rock lobster). Prawns and langoustines usually come from the warmer Indian ocean waters of neighbouring Mozambique.


Unique variety of shellfish seafood in South Africa
Seafood cuisine in South Africa
The people of the West Coast, The coastline north of cape town stretching towards the border of Namibia, are particularly famous for their seafood cuisine. The are experts at grilling seafood the barbecue way over open fires.

A visit to one of the many beach restaurants along the West Coast is a must for the seafood lover. Many of them are right on the beach, consisting of not much more then a cave formed by huge boulders, offering a unique culinary experience.

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Pink juicy prawns,...


Delicious prawns
Seafood in South Africa
Pink juicy prawns sizzling in garlic, are a great treat. From regular queen-size to the monster tiger-size, prawns come dressed in either a garlic or lemon butter, or all fired up in a peri-peri marinade. They are relatively affordable and should be enjoyed at least once during your visit.

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Crispy calamari,…


Deep-fried calamari rings
Seafood cuisine in South Africa
Crispy Calamari, tender and tasty and served with tartare sauce, is a favourite in South Africa. There is no shortage of this lovely delicacy on local menus, with many chefs having moved away from the deep-fried method of preparation to the more gourmet methods of cooking, such as sear grilling, basting and stewing.

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"Fresh from the sea" Kingklip,...


Kingklip with potato chips and salads
Seafood cuisine in South Africa
Fresh from the sea Kingklip, an elongated fish found only off the coast of South Africa. South Africans are the biggest consumers of kingklip in the world. It’s a firm white saltwater fish that yields large flakes, it lends itself to virtually all methods of preparation, such as baking, deep-frying, grilling or pan-frying. It is particularly good when just grilled and brushed with a lemon-butter sauce.

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Delicious Crayfish,...


Lovely crayfish straight from the sea
copyright © South African tourism - Seafood cuisine in South Africa
The delightful Crayfish (spiny rock lobster in South Africa) is one of the most desirable of all sea foods. It has become a luxury treat, mostly available in up-market establishments. Price alone however cannot keep crayfish lovers from enjoying their favourite meal. Served either cold with creamy fresh mayonnaise, grilled with garlic butter or baked in a cream and sherry sauce with a touch of parmesan, it’s a delicacy you should try at least once.

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Smoked snoek,...


Smoked snoek, a traditional delicacy in the cape
Seafood cuisine in South Africa
Smoked Snoek has also become a South African institution. No fish is more traditional to the Cape then this fierce predator of the sea. Although very tasty, it should be eaten or preserved soon after catching or else the flesh tends to soften. Next to being smoked or dried, it is often served as a paté mixed with cream and brandy, or flecked open and grilled over the coals, brushed with apricot jam and butter.

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"Catch of the day" Barracuda",...


Shoal of barracudas
Seafood cuisine in South Africa
The Barracuda is often found on local menus when you are visiting the Durban area on the South African east coast. It is often served as the “Catch of the day” as it is mostly caught by deep-sea fishermen on private fishing boats and then sold on the day of catching to restaurants ashore. It is juicy, boasts large flakes and is rated as one of the best fresh fish to eat in the region.

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Superb fish and chips,...


Fish and Chips
Seafood cuisine in South Africa
Fish and chips in South Africa are the freshest you will ever eat. Hake is most often used when you see fish and chips on the menu. This delicious "comfort food" is inexpensive and readily available almost anywhere. Some fish and chips shops serve it the old fashioned way, wrapped in paper and sprinkled with salt, vinegar and Worcester sauce.






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2. Food in South Africa
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3. Seafood cuisine