Mzansi eats: Six South African snack foods
Mzansi Eats are unique to South Africa, and something you’ll see everywhere. These are the foods you’ll miss when you’re missing home – and everyone has their idea of what their perfect local foods are.
Which snacks get South Africans through their day?
We’ve taken a look at some of the most popular Mzansi eats out there.
Here are six of SA’s most popular snack foods, ranked.
Mzansi eats: Biltong
Biltong is like jerky, but also very unlike jerky.
Meats are spiced and dried, eaten in a variety of different ways. Biltong makes great soups, excellent stews, but can also be a snack for any time of the day.
Most stores sell biltong somewhere.
You can also make it yourself with the right YouTube guide.
Mzansi eats: Magwinya
Magwinya is the traditional phrasing for a vetkoek, or a savoury dough thrown into oil and fried. These are one of South Africa’s staple eats, found almost everywhere you can buy salt and flour from.
They’re sold in batches or singles, meant to be eaten as-is or with your chosen filling.
Some restaurants sell filled Magwinyas, though some prefer them plain.
Never had one?
You’re missing out.
Mzansi eats: Makeke
Makeke can mean sno-balls or scones.
The phrase just means cake, and South Africa has many different kinds. They’re sold at stores and sometimes by street vendors.
Choose your cake type and eat it.
if it’s too dry, here’s a clue: you’re supposed to have them with coffee or tea.
You can also buy some margarine from the next store: just saying.
Mzansi eats: Shisanyama
Shisanyama is the colloquial name for fire-grilled meat.
Everyone has their method, means, and idea of a perfect braai.
Taxi ranks sometimes have shisanyama restaurants close to them. If you smell smoke, there could be a shisa near you.
Meat includes chicken or beef.
Meats can be spiced (or not).
It’s one of the perfect anytime Mzansi Eats.
Mzansi eats: Bunny Chow
Bunny chow isn’t simply a snack. It’s a traditional South African delicacy, consisting of a hollowed-out bread filled with your chosen food. Fillings include curries, but can also be stews or simple mixes of whatever you can imagine.
These days there are even luxurious, high-end bunny chows.
It’s one of the most classic Mzansi Eats.
Local eats: Russians
Russians are a meat type, which can be closer to a Kielbasa.
There’s nothing ‘Russian’ about them, however the name stuck.
‘Russians’ are sausages. South Africans usually eat these with helpings of chips, and covered in different sauces. Spaza shops usually sell them, or you can buy them in packs from your local supermarket.
Tell us your thoughts
We want to know what you think! Tell us more about your favourite South African recipes or snacks. Get in touch with the team by sending an email to this address; [email protected]
READ MORE ARTICLES BY FRANCOIS JANSEN (ALEX J. COYNE)
News Related
-
1024x768_france-antoine-dupont-and-fabian-galthie-oct-2023-jpg Fabien Galthie’s men went into the global tournament as one of the favourites but they were ousted in the last-eight. Les Bleus suffered a 29-28 defeat to the Springboks as they were eliminated at their home World Cup by the eventual champions. It was a similar story to 2019, ...
See Details:
Antoine Dupont still hurt by 'injustice' of World Cup loss to Springboks
-
China’s New Aircraft Carrier Begins Catapult Testing Testing of the catapults on the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian has begun. This is an important step forward in the construction of this ship, which is set to be the first carrier in the People’s Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, that launches aircraft ...
See Details:
China's New Aircraft Carrier Begins Catapult Testing
-
Aircraft Downed Inside Russia By Patriot System: Ukrainian Air Force The Ukrainian Air Force has now confirmed that a number of Russian aircraft shot down back in May over their own territory were indeed destroyed by a foreign-supplied Patriot air defense system. The possibility that Ukraine’s newly acquired Patriots may ...
See Details:
Aircraft Downed Inside Russia By Patriot System: Ukrainian Air Force
-
-
Exiled Mayor of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov delivers a speech during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on April 20, 2022 in Brussels. Fedorov on Monday said Ukrainian partisans blew up a car with pro-Russian fighters inside over the weekend. A car with Chechen soldiers fighting ...
See Details:
Car With Pro-Russian Fighters Blown Up by Resistance: Exiled Mayor
-
-
Springbok lock opts not to renew contract with URC team Rugby World Cup-winning lock RG Snyman has opted not to extend his stay at Munster beyond the current season. This week, it was revealed by Munster that Snyman would seek new horizons once his deal with the Irish Province expires. ...
See Details:
Springbok lock opts not to renew contract with URC team
-
Pravin Gordhan’s deathly legacy: A threat to SA’s economic future In the corridors of power, where decisions shape the destiny of nations, one man has emerged as front runner for the dubious honour of being the architect of South Africa’s economic chaos – Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, at ...
See Details:
Pravin Gordhan’s deathly legacy: A threat to SA’s economic future
-
Pravin Gordhan’s deathly legacy: A threat to SA’s economic future In the corridors of power, where decisions shape the destiny of nations, one man has emerged as front runner for the dubious honour of being the architect of South Africa’s economic chaos – Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, at ...
See Details:
Antoine Dupont STILL hurt by ‘injustice’ of Rugby World Cup loss to Springboks
-
Pravin Gordhan’s deathly legacy: A threat to SA’s economic future In the corridors of power, where decisions shape the destiny of nations, one man has emerged as front runner for the dubious honour of being the architect of South Africa’s economic chaos – Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, at ...
See Details:
Rubber stamping NHI Bill will have damaging consequences for SA for generations
-
-
Pravin Gordhan’s deathly legacy: A threat to SA’s economic future In the corridors of power, where decisions shape the destiny of nations, one man has emerged as front runner for the dubious honour of being the architect of South Africa’s economic chaos – Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, at ...
See Details:
After the Bell: SA’s NHI healthcare disaster starts right here
-
Pravin Gordhan’s deathly legacy: A threat to SA’s economic future In the corridors of power, where decisions shape the destiny of nations, one man has emerged as front runner for the dubious honour of being the architect of South Africa’s economic chaos – Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, at ...
See Details:
Gupta-linked development land for sale
-
OTHER NEWS
A senior Volkswagen executive involved in a global cost-cutting strategy said on Friday, 24 November, he was “very worried” about the future of the company’s operations in South Africa, which ...
Read more »
Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters Liz Truss, the shortest-serving prime minister in British history, who was famously shown to have a shorter shelf life than a lettuce, has effectively backed Donald Trump ...
Read more »
Standard Bank treasonous? We're literally helping to keep the lights on says CEO Bruce Whitfield speaks to Lungisa Fuzile, Standard Bank SA CEO. Standard Bank is one of 28 banks ...
Read more »
Israel, Hamas agree to extend truce for two days; Musk ‘would like to help rebuild Gaza’ The UN said many people in Gaza still had no food or cooking fuel ...
Read more »
Mamelodi Sundowns’ former coach, Pitso Mosimane, dismissed the African Football League Jingles shared his opinion and compared it to the CAF league and said that it was a mere tournament ...
Read more »
Take note of these N3 road works between Westville and Paradise Valley The N3 between the Westville viaduct and Paradise Valley interchange will be partially closed to traffic for the ...
Read more »
UKZN medical student bags 2023 Health Excellence Rising Star Award Durban — One of the country’s most progressive young minds in the medical field, fifth-year University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) medical ...
Read more »