Category Archives: Meat Dishes
Mint Lamb Chops
Mint Lamb Chops
Chops infused with a mint flavoured marinade served with a mint sauce served with a baby leaf salad.
Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
Ingredients:
Serves 6
12 lamb chops, trimmed
3 red chillies, seeds removed and finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 pack (20g) of fresh mint, finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
For the mint sauce:
250g plain smooth yoghurt (2x175g tubs)
Small pack mint, finely chopped
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
For the salad:
1 packet baby leaf salad mix
½ red onion J
uice of half a lemon
Seasoning as required
Method:
To make the mint sauce:
Place the yoghurt in a bowl, add the chopped mint, lemon juice.
Season with salt and pepper, mix well to combine.
Sprinkle with the lemon zest and set aside.
To make the chops: Place the finely chopped chillies, garlic, lemon juice with zest, mint and olive oil in a bowl.
Mix well until a paste forms and season with salt and pepper. Spread the paste over the chops and cook on hot griddle pan or under pre-heated grill.
For better results refrigerate for at least an hour before cooking, Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side depending on how you like your lamb, medium or well done.
Serve with the mint yoghurt and salad.
To make the salad, add the baby leaf salad in a bowl with the thinly sliced onion and toss with the lemon juice. Season and serve.
Bobotie
Salwaa’s Cape Malay Cooking
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive since 2011!
Bobotie is made from minced meat, usually beef, flavoured with onions and lots of pungent spices for a rich flavour. The curried minced meat are topped with a creamy egg custard baked until golden brown. As a variation dried fruit is added in the mince mixture before baking. Bobotie is traditionally served with mashed potatoes, veg and yellow rice. Watch here how I make my bobotie over the braai.
Bobotie one of the oldest and most delicious recipes in Cape cuisine. Read more about the Battle Over Bobotie here
Ingredients:
2 slices white bread (preferably a couple of days old)
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 large chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tsp crushed garlic
salt to taste, 1 – 2 teaspoons
3 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
500g minced meat (lamb or beef)
1 large egg
2 tablespoons lemon juice
6 bay leaves
For the topping:
3 large eggs
1 cup milk
Preheat oven to 180°C. Pour cold water to cover over the bread and set aside to soak.
Meanwhile fry onions in oil until they soft and starting to colour, 10 minutes. Add cloves, garlic, salt, curry powder, 2 of the bay leaves and turmeric and simmer for 5 minutes adding 2 tablespoons water if necessary to prevent the onions from sticking.
In a seperate bowl combine the minced meat with the onion mixture, eggs, lemon juice and sugar. Squeeze the water from the bread and mix until well blended.
Tip into an ovenproof dish (23 x 33cm and about 5-6cm deep). Press the mixture down well and smooth the top. You can make this and chill 1 day ahead.
Bake the Bobotie in a preheated oven for 35-40 minutes. At this stage I take a fork and just ever so slightly scrape the top to even it. Mix the eggs and milk together and pour the mixture over the Bobotie.
Return it to the oven and bake grill a further 5 -10 minutes until the egg mixture has cooked and the top of the Bobotie and a beautiful golden brown colour.
Serve with almond yellow rice, braised rice, vegetables and mango chutney.

Variations:
– Add a couple tablespoons of mango chutney or apricot preserves to the meat if you like. A grated apple is also sometimes added.
– Stir a handful of toasted, slivered almonds into the meat mixture before cooking, or garnish the finished dish with toasted almonds.
– One or two beaten eggs can also be stirred into the meat mixture if you like.
– Substitute lemon leaves for the bay leaves if you can find them.
Watch me making bobotie over the braai! Combining one of South Africa’s beloved heritage dishes with our nations favourite pass time, Braai-ing
Roast Leg Of Lamb
Roast lamb
Serves 6 – 8
Serve this tender lamb with your favorite gravy and vegetables.
Ready in 3 hours – 3 1/2 hours, dependent on the size of your leg of lamb
Ingredients:
1 large head of garlic, lightly crushed
10 cloves
10 allspice berries
7 bay leaves
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 whole large leg of lamb, bone in (about 2.5kg)
Salt & pepper to taste
Trim excess fat and rinse the leg of lamb under running water.

Preheat the oven to 190C.
Put the lamb into a large roasting tin /Pyrex dish . Using a sharp knife, make cuts in the lamb, about 1.5cm apart, all the way to the bone.
Rub salt and pepper all over the leg of lamb, don’t skimp on the pepper!

Lightly crush a head of garlic, not necessary to peel but do remove excess peels.

Scatter the head of garlic, cloves, allspice, bay leaves around the leg of lamb.

Top with the sprigs of rosemary.

Add a cup of water. Cover with foil. Cook in a preheated oven at 190C for 3 – 3 1/2 hours.

In the meantime prepare your vegetables. Remember you can use any vegetables you like.
Wash and half, if necessary, 1 kg baby potatoes. Drain excess water. Add the potatoes in a roasting / Pyrex dish. Add salt and crushed black pepper to taste. Drizzle a tablespoon or two olive oil over the potatoes and add a quarter cup of water. Cover with foil. Pop in the oven an hour before the leg of lamb is done. The potatoes will turn out crispy on the outside and soft in the inside.

Leg of lamb halfway through the cooking time.

Peel, de-seed and slice butternut into small pieces. Peel carrots and cut into smaller pieces. Melt 50g unsalted butter and 50ml vegetable oil in a saucepan. When the butter/oil begins to bubble add a a couple of stick cinnamon and the butternut pieces. Brown on each side.

Add the carrots, toss lightly so that the carrots are coated with the butter/oil mixture. Season to taste (salt and a bit of pepper will do) Cover and allow to steam over low heat until the vegetables are soft but not mushy.

Roasted potatoes.

Butternut and carrots, cooked.

Ready to eat 🙂

Serve with homemade peppercorn sauce
Ingredients:
3 – 4 tablespoons black peppercorns
80g butter
1 large onion, minced
120ml beef stock
100ml fresh cream
salt to taste
Method:
Crush the peppercorns slightly, either using a mortar and pestle or a rolling pin.
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium high heat. Add the onions and saute until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the peppercorns and boil for another 3 minutes. Add beef stock and boil another 3 minutes.
Just before serving, add the cream and reduce the heat to medium. Heat through, but don’t allow the peppercorn sauce to boil. Once the sauce is at your desired thickness, test for seasoning. Add salt if necessary, then serve immediately.
Enjoy 🙂
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Shepherd’s Pie (Oond Frikkadel)
Shepherd’s Pie also known as Oond Frikkadel or Cottage Pie is a classic dish which pretty much everyone I’ve ever met has their own way of making. This is my way which I’ve kept really simple and it’s a winner every time I make it. Make sure you buy the best quality mince you can afford, as it really makes the dish, there’s nothing worse than an oily and fatty cottage pie. This recipe serves 6.
Shepherd’s pie” is made from lamb (hence “shepherd”), while “cottage pie” is made with beef.
Shepherd’s Pie, Cottage Pie, Oond FrikkadelIngredients:
500g fat free minced meat
1 medium onion
1 small green pepper
1 medium tomato
1/2 bunch dhanya
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
5 cloves garlic, grated
1 slice bread soaked in water (preferably day or two old)
1 large egg
salt & pepper to taste
Method:
Wash and drain minced meat well.
Soak bread in water and squeeze excess water out.
Chop onion, pepper, tomato, dhanya finely.
Add all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly using your hands.
Transfer the mixture into an oven proof dish.
Bake in a preheated oven for 30-40 minutes at 180C.
Top with mashed potatoes and sprinkle with grated nutmeg.
Grill in the oven until top is slightly browned.
Serve with yellow rice, steamed vegetables or fresh salad.
Yellow Rice
Yellow Rice Recipe
Serves 6
Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked basmati rice
¼ teaspoon turmeric
5 cardamom pods, crushed
3 stick cinnamons
50g butter
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup sugar
½ cup raisins, optional
Method:
I always parboil my rice and then rinse as I don’t like the starch on the rice.
Using a large saucepan parboil the rice until half cooked approximately 5- 7 minutes.
Pour into a colander, rinse and return to the saucepan. Add the rest of the ingredients with a cup of water. Stir gently. Heat your saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 6 minutes. Stir with a fork to fluff and loosen the grains, turn the heat off. Leave the sealed saucepan on the stove, the retained heat will complete the cooking process and any water left will be absorbed leaving you with fluffy and tender yellow rice.
Perfect with bobotie, frikkadel, roast, etc…
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Denning Vleis / Meat
Denningvleis
This lamb dish is one of the oldest recorded recipes in South African cuisine. It has a sweet – sour taste and its spices are very evocative of Indonesian cuisine. Serve with yellow or savoury rice, mashed potatoes and boiled vegetables.
**Savoury rice recipe below**
Ingredients:
1.5-2.0kg boneless lamb pieces
3 large onions (or 5 regular size onions)
50ml oil for frying the onions
Marinade:
6-8 big cloves garlic, crushed
½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
6-8 whole cloves
6-8 whole allspice
1 teaspoon mustard seed
4 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
2-3 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar
20ml sugar (optional)
Method
Trim the fat from the meat, remove the bones and cut the meat into pieces. Wash and drain.
Roughly chop the onions.
Combine marinade ingredients, add meat. Marinade the meat for at least one hour.
Heat a little oil in a heavy based pot and fry onions until golden brown.
Add the marinated meat to the onions and cook until meat is very tender and juicy. If you have the time, let it simmer on very low heat for a further half hour. If the meat gets too dry add some water.
Delicious served with yellow rice, mashed potatoes and boiled squash.
Cook’s tip:
Soak 50ml tamarind in 100ml water and add to marinade ingredients instead of vinegar or lemon juice.
SAVOURY RICE
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked long grain rice or basmati rice
1 onion, finely chopped
3 cardamom pods
2 stick cinnamons
100g butter
1 teaspoon salt
Handful chopped dhanya/fresh coriander
Method:
Parboil the rice until half cooked.
Pour into a colander, rinse, leave the rice in the colander whilst preparing the onions.
Heat your saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, melt, add the cardamom and stick cinnamon. Add the onions. Braise the onions until golden brown. Add the half cooked rice, salt and a cup of water. Heat the rice until warmed through. Add the dhanya/coriander, stir with a fork to loosen the grains and turn the heat off. Leave the sealed saucepan on the stove, the retained heat will complete the cooking process and any water left will be absorbed leaving you with fluffy and tender.
VARIATION:
Add a cup of mixed vegetables with the rice before steaming.
Add a tin of drained chick peas with the rice before steaming.
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Roast Leg Of Lamb
Roast lamb
Serve this tender lamb with your favourite gravy and vegetables.
Ready in 2 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients:
10 cloves of garlic
10 cloves
10 bay leaves
1 whole large leg of lamb, bone in (about 2.2kg)
Salt & pepper to taste
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 190C.
2. Put the lamb into a large roasting tin. Using a sharp knife, make cuts in the lamb, about 1.5cm apart, all the way to the bone.
3. Stuff 1 clove of garlic, clove, bay leave into the each of the cuts. Rub the leg of lamb with salt and pepper according to taste. Add a cup of water into the tin. Cover the tin loosely with foil and roast for 1 hour 30 minutes, adding more water if necessary. Remove the foil and cook for another 30 minutes.
4. Put the meat on a platter, cover loosely with foil and leave in a warm place to rest for 15 minutes before carving. Serve with gravy, roast potatoes, a selection of vegetables of your choice.
Chops Sosatie
Chops Sosatie

Chops Sosatie
1kg lamb chops
500g thinly slices onions
Marinade:
15ml crushed garlic
5 bay leaves
5 whole cloves
2ml dried thyme
5ml dried sage
20ml curry powder
60ml lemon juice or vinegar
45ml sugar
5ml salt (or too taste)

Marinated Chops Sosatie
Combine the marinade ingredients and marinade chops for at least 1 hour or longer if you have time. Transfer into a oven proof dish cover with sliced onions and cook, covered, with aluminium foil in a preheated oven (200C) for 50 – 60 minutes.

Ready For The Oven
Serve with mashed potatoes and steamed mixed vegetables.
Savoury / Dhanya Rice

Dhanya Rice
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked long grain rice or basmati rice
1 onion, finely chopped
3 cardamom pods
2 stick cinnamons
100g butter
1 teaspoon salt
Handful chopped dhanya
Method:
Parboil the rice until half cooked.
Pour into a colander, rinse, leave the rice in the colander whilst preparing the onions.
Heat your saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, melt, add the cardamom and stick cinnamon. Add the onions. Braise the onions until golden brown. Add the half cooked rice, salt and a cup of water. Heat the rice until warmed through. Add the dhanya, stir with a fork to loosen the grains and turn the heat off. Leave the sealed saucepan on the stove, the retained heat will complete the cooking process and any water left will be absorbed leaving you with fluffy and tender.
VARIATION:
Add a cup of mixed vegetables with the rice before steaming.
Add a tin of drained chick peas with the rice before steaming.
Mavrou
Mavrou
A Cape Malay traditional dish which is usually served at weddings, on Eid and other special occasions. Mavrou is a very colourful dish and is usually made with steak.

Mavrou
Ingredients:
1 kg cubed steak or goulash
10 ml salt
10 ml ground jeera (cumin)
15 ml ground koljana (coriander)
10 ml barishap (fennel seeds)
15 ml crushed red chillies
3 cloves
3 whole all spice
10 ml ground ginger
10 ml ground garlic
3 cardamom pods
3 cinnamon sticks
Few strands saffron (optional)
4 large onions, thinly sliced
Oil for braising onions
2 large tomatoes, grated
Method:
• Combine all spices and mix well with meat. Marinate for at least an hour.
• Heat oil in large pot and braise onions until soft and golden, adding water when necessary.
• Add meat and cook covered until soft, adding water when necessary.
• Serve with white or savoury rice decorated with boiled eggs cut into quarters.
VARIATION:
Served with steamed mix vegetables of peas.
CHILLI CON CARNE
Chilli Con Carne Recipe
This great chilli has to be one of the best dishes to serve to friends for a casual get-together. It’s easy to throw together using mostly store cupboard ingredients.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
1 heaped teaspoon hot chilli powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground jeera
500g lean minced beef
1 beef stock cube
400g can chopped tomatoes
½ teaspoon dried mix herbs
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoon tomato purée
410g can red kidney beans
Method:
- Put your pan on the stove over a medium heat. Add the oil and leave it for 1-2 minutes until hot. Add the onions and cook, stirring fairly frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft. Add in the garlic, red pepper, chilli, paprika and cumin. Give it a good stir, then leave it to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Brown the mince. Turn the heat up a bit, add the meat to the pan and break it up with your spoon . The mix should sizzle a bit when you add the mince. Keep stirring and prodding for at least 5 minutes, until all the mince is in uniform, mince-sized lumps and there are no more pink bits. Make sure you keep the heat hot enough for the meat to fry and become brown, rather than just stew.
- Making the sauce. Crumble your stock cube into 300ml/1⁄2 pint of hot water. Pour this into the pan with the mince mixture. Open the can of chopped tomatoes and add these as well. Add the mixed herbs and the sugar, and add a good shake of salt and pepper. Squirt in about 2 tablespoons of tomato purée and stir the sauce well.
- Simmer it gently. Bring the whole thing to the boil, give it a good stir and put a lid on the pan. Turn down the heat until it is gently bubbling and leave it for 20 minutes. You should check on the pan occasionally to stir it and make sure the sauce doesn’t catch on the bottom of the pan or isn’t drying out. If it is, add a couple of tablespoons of water and make sure that the heat really is low enough. After simmering gently, the saucy mince mixture should look thick, moist and juicy.
- Bring on the beans. Drain and rinse the beans in a sieve and stir them into the chilli pot. Bring to the boil again, and gently bubble without the lid for another 10 minutes, adding a little more water if it looks too dry. Taste a bit of the chilli and season. It will probably take a lot more seasoning than you think. Now replace the lid, turn off the heat and leave your chilli to stand for 10 minutes before serving, and relax. Leaving your chilli to stand is really important as it allows the flavours to mingle and the meat. Serve with boiled plain rice or my kids love it with cooked spaghetti.
PASTA BAKE
PASTA BAKE
Pasta bake is such an easy dinner – try our pasta bake recipe to feed the kids a simple dinner.
KIDS LOVE THIS! Braise lean minced meat with 1 chopped onion, 1 teaspoon garlic, 3 cloves, pepper and salt to taste. The mince should be dry. Top with mashed potatoes and cooked spaghetti as a top layer. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Dot with blobs of butter. Heat through in the oven. Serve with a fresh salad.
EASY PEASY!!

















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