Say ‘Howzat’ to the South African Food Trend
The South African influence first made its way onto our tables in wine form; we have been happily supping South African Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc for decades. Now on the back of the growing popularity of grilled meat joints of all kinds, it’s surely time for South African cuisine to shine, so will the Braai finally have its day?
The rise of South African cuisine
South African food was cited as one of BBC Good Food’s ten food trends of 2015, with Biltong and Bobotie expected to make it onto more menus this year alongside lesser-known dishes such as the South African street favourite, Bunny Chow. Still very much a street food rather than a restaurant dish, Bunny Chow is a practical solution to lunch on the move, which originated in Durban. The substantial snack is thought to have been first enjoyed by Indian immigrants who worked on South African sugar plantations - in need of a way to transport their curry lunches to work with them, they hollowed out loaves, filled them with flavoursome curries and then popped the loaves’ ‘lids’ back on.
Here in the UK, loaves hollowed out and filled with all kinds of delights have made their way onto a lot of brunch menus of late, but authentic Bunny Chow complete with South African flavours can still only to be found at a smattering of restaurants and from a handful of street food vendors. If you’re looking for a South African restaurant near you, most are to be found in London where there’s a large ex-pat community, but there are a growing number of authentic South African eateries across the UK in cities such as Birmingham and Manchester too.
Spotting the South African influence
While it remains to be seen whether this will be the year that South African specialities spread into the mainstream, you don’t have to go far to find food with South African origins on the UK high street. For example, did you know that Nando’s is actually a South African restaurant brand? Launched in Johannesburg in 1987, Nando’s first came to the UK in 1992. The menu takes influence from the South East African area of Mozambique matched with Portugese Peri-Peri. The resulting flame-grilled food has been a hit in all corners of the world, with many countries adding their own unique twists to the Nando’s menu – you’ll find some great examples in this article.
It’s not just a #cheekynandos we have to thank South Africa for; the barbecue joint can in many ways be credited with reigniting our relationship with all things flame-grilled and fiery. The secret of a Peri-Peri sauce is the Piri-Piri chilli, otherwise known as the African bird’s eye chilli and it’s a spice that we as a nation have definitely taken to our hearts and stomachs. Hot sauce is a growing UK market that is rising globally too. Euromonitor reported that sales in hot sauce grew by over eight per cent in 2014. In the UK, Nando’s share of hot sauce sales accounts for over a quarter of the market.
Putting South Africa on your menu
You may already have a Piri-Piri dressed salad or sandwich on the menu of your café or restaurant that some other South African dishes would sit neatly alongside. Alternatively, you might want to draw on ideas rather than flavours and start serving up brunches, breakfasts or lunches in Bunny Chow-style hollowed-out loaves.
Sensible additions to deli shelves would be hot sauces of all kinds along with the protein rich snack Biltong, which is a perfect fuss-free, ‘on the move’ option for individuals following a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets. And if you happen to have an alcohol licence, adding some carefully selected South African Chenin Blanc or silky Pinot Noir to your wine list is always a safe bet.
Do you have any foods with South African influence on your menu? Can you recommend a great South African restaurant in your town? And the most burning question of all: where do you stand on having a ‘Cheeky Nando’s’? Share your views below or head on over to Twitter to join the conversation at @BunzlLockhart."
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