Did you know that South Africa uses the third highest amount of salt in their meats? Seen as the spice of love, South African cuisine tends to be generous with this flavor-boosting ingredient.
But what other spices feature as stars in South African food?
We’re here with a list of tantalizing spices that’ll bring a new kick to all of your favorite dishes. Keep reading to learn all about them!
Cumin
This earthy spice has a unique smell and flavor that brings an instant sense of warmth into any dish. For some, there’s even a slight hint of a citrusy background to cumin. This helps it create even more layers in any African seasoning.
Used in dishes such as curries, biltong, stews, and peri peri chicken livers, you can never go wrong with adding more cumin to your cooking.
Ginger
There’s something special about any dish that includes the tangy zing of fresh ginger. With an almost peppery aftertaste, ginger can be added as a small background note or made into the main component of a dish.
Ginger features in dishes such as chakalaka and tomato jam. Desserts use a lot of ginger as well, with ginger tart and ginger cookies being family favorites around the area.
It’s also often used in many African spice blends, and for good reason!
Turmeric
Turmeric is such a beloved spice because of its unique orange-yellow color. Add it to any food and it’ll soon turn into a beautiful golden dish of flavor.
With a pungent aroma, distinct color, and earthy mustard flavor, turmeric is a singular spice you can’t replicate with other types of spices.
Yellow rice, bobotie, and curry all use turmeric to excite dinner guests. Next time you want to impress your friends with South African recipes full of rich flavors, make sure to choose one that uses turmeric.
Cardamom Pods
If you want to add some complexity to a dish, then cardamom is the perfect candidate. It’s warm, smoky, and strong, with a surprising hint of mint. It also adds a wonderful aroma to a meal.
An iconic dish that uses cardamom pods is bunny chow. This dish is a kind of stew that’s luxurious and bursting with flavor. Served inside hearty bread, it’s the gift that keeps on giving!
Cinnamon
When people think of cinnamon, they often go the sweet route. While cinnamon has an honored place among desserts, have you ever tried adding this warm spice to savory meals?
It adds a sense of heat without being spicy, as well as a hint of sweetness. Bobotie, yellow rice, curry, bulkas, trinchado, sausages, and stews all use cinnamon to great effect.
It’s difficult to hate cinnamon, which is why it’s one of the top South African spices!
Taste Authentic South African Cuisine by Using These Vibrant Spices
By using these spices in your daily cooking, there’s no end to the inspiration. You’ll have no trouble bringing authentic South African cuisine to your home to impress your friends and family.
Try these spices out today to expand your culinary repertoire!
If you want to continue expanding your food knowledge, make sure to check out the rest of our Food section for fun tips, tricks, and trivia!
