Touch. Pause. Crouch. Engage! With the much-anticipated Springboks vs All Blacks match fast approaching this Friday, our friends at Suzuki SA are as excited as we are about the upcoming game, and together we’re going to be celebrating the upcoming festivities all week with stories and even a ticket giveaway to get you in the mood for the big game.
Try some (or all) of these dishes at your gameday party and see which cuisine wins the crowd over – South Africa or New Zealand? Being Capetonians, we already know the answer to that, but you may be surprised at how flavourful and easy the cuisine is from our southern neighbours on the other side of the globe.
Shoot for between the poles with these dishes, and let the crowd decide for themselves – Boks or All Blacks?
South Africa – A classic South African braai
Game day, a birthday or just a plain old sunny Sunday, a braai is the perfect idea for any occasion. A tradition that South Africans hold close to our hearts, a braai is not just throwing a few chops on the flames. A few logs of wood in the braai or some brickets in the Weber and suddenly everyone’s chatting in a circle, sipping on something cold and enjoying the excitement and anticipation of game day. This, while watching the big game, is a no-brainer.
Meal crowd pleaser: Monkeygland Boerewors Rolls
The best thing about this dish is that both Monkeygland sauce and boerewors are a South African invention – so what better dish to serve when we’re backing the Boks? Find the recipe here!
New Zealand – The Kiwi Meat Pie
Meet the Kiwi meat pie, a soft pastry with a crusty exterior wrapped around a filling (usually minced beef). The national favourite snack can be found everywhere from gas stations to cafes, typically served with a large dollop of tomato sauce. Varieties such as Thai satay vegetable and curried chicken nowadays exist, but the minced beef filling remains a classic.
Meal crowd pleaser: Mini Kiwi mince pies
Plain and simple, yet tasty and fresh, these lamb mince (NZ’s favourite meat) are the perfect mini bites of New Zealand to keep the festivities going through the match. Get the recipe here!
So, South Africa and New Zealand may both have some really tasty main meal dishes, but the sweet stuff will stand the true test of time. Cue the fanfare from Ellis Park, 1995, and let’s see which country’s dessert sweetens things up the most with these classic South African and New Zealand desserts.
South Africa – Milktart/Melktert
From malva pudding to koeksisters, the milk tart remains a classic South African dish that never fails to impress. Arguably the best thing brought over by the Dutch, Cape Malays adapted the recipe and made it better by adding more spice. Sweet, creamy and all things nice, this treat will always go down well.
Meal crowd pleaser: Classic Milk Tart
Wobbly, thick and delicious, there won’t be a tastebud around that wouldn’t water for a slice of milk tart. Keep the sugar cravings satisfied with this recipe!
New Zealand – Pavlova
The Slavic name may be a bit misleading of this Kiwi dish, but history says that the extremely popular dessert was created in honour of a Russian ballerina who toured New Zealand and Australia in the 1920s. Both of these nations argue that they were the first to make the sweet, meringue-based treat, but in a South African’s eyes – they’re pretty much the same place.
Meal crowd pleaser: Fantasy Pavlova
Egg whites, sugar, cornflour and a waterfall of berry compote make this pavlova a grand (and pretty picturesque) dish – don’t forget to grab a picture before everyone tucks in! You can find out how to recreate this masterpiece here.
We’re in extra time here and if you can’t decide between the traditional South African braai and the tasty Kiwi meat pie (or your cousins who support the All Blacks are coming over) – create cuisine-harmony with a braai pie! South African Youtube sensation, Suzelle DIY, will show you how.
