6 Delicious Local Ingredients to Include in Your Heritage Day Dishes
It’s always a good idea to cook with local, seasonal ingredients but perhaps even more so on the day dedicated to honoring our country’s incredible heritage. So if you’re wanting to pay homage to the sublime produce harvested from South African soil, you’ll find just what you’re looking for right here. Read on for six delicious local ingredients to include in your Heritage Day dishes.
1. Sorghum
Despite being the third most important cereal crop nationally, sorghum is arguably one of the more underutilized indigenous grains. Highly nutritious with a deliciously nutty taste, it sure is worth a spot on your Heritage Day dining table. Sorghum flour, in particular, is a great substitute for traditional wheat flour in baked goods like flatbreads and biscuits. Whole sorghum, on the other hand, works well as a substitute for cooked grains like quinoa, couscous, and rice.
Here are three tasty sorghum recipes to consider:
- Ting Le Tshohlo (Sorghum Fermented Pap and Pulled Beef)
- Sorghum Rainbow Salad
- Banana and Raisin Mpunyane (Sorghum Bread)
2. Amadumbe
Often referred to as the “African potato”, Amadumbe is a versatile starchy vegetable you can use in many of the ways you would a regular potato. If you’re keen to try but are unsure where to start, the easiest point of entry would be to roast, boil, or mash them — or simply add them to your Heritage Day potjie or stew. They do need a fair amount of time to cook through though, so be sure to have them on the boil for at least 45 minutes. Chopping them into small cubes beforehand will also help ensure an even cook.
Give these four Amadumbe recipes a go:
3. Peri-Peri (African Bird’s Eye Chilli)
Peri-Peri, Piri-Piri, or Pili-Pili. Many different names for the fiery flavour we South Africans know and love. So if you have some spicy Heritage Day dishes planned, African Bird’s Eye Chilli is the ingredient to add! Not only does it work wonders when combined with chicken and prawns, but it’ll also make a great addition to your homemade braai sauces and marinades.
Give these flavour-filled Peri-Peri recipes a go:
4. Rooibos
Not just a cup of tea! This super versatile native plant has plenty to offer on the culinary front. In addition to its signature sweet flavour, it also features powerful antioxidants that are sure to increase the nutritional value of any dessert dish. So why not fire up the kettle and infuse some freshly brewed Rooibos into your tart fillings and cake batters?
Give these interesting Rooibos recipe ideas a try:
- Malva Pudding with Ginger Pears Poached in Rooibos Tea
- Rooibos Infused Milk Tart
- Rooibos, Date, and Banana Cake
- Rooibos Tea and Lemon Sorbet
5. Spekboom
Now, we know what you might be thinking — isn’t spekboom just a succulent? Truly, this indigenous plant makes for an ingenious ingredient too! Zinging with citrus flavour, spekboom would work well in all sorts of Heritage Day starters or sides, like a green salad, lamb stew, or tomato soup. It also shines in salsa and alongside some cheese and preserves as an appetizer.
Here are three tasty Spekboom recipes to try this Heritage Day:
- Spekboom, Chickpea, and Tomato Salad
- Braaied Spatchcock Chicken with Spekboom Salsa
- Karoo Lamb Chops with Spekboom Chimichurri
6. Venison
Because this list just wouldn’t be complete without some delicious homegrown meat to enjoy on the braai! Venison is incredibly versatile and we love to use it in all kinds of ways — from homemade sausages and burger patties to steaks, sosaties, and stir-frys. Boasting a rich flavour, venison is also much leaner than beef and contains less saturated fat, making it a healthy and tasty alternative.
Here are four ways to enjoy some venison this Heritage Day:
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Which proudly local ingredients will you include in your Heritage Day dishes? Share with us via any of our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
