Books for SA cooks

KITCHEN KICKSTARTERS: SUGGESTIONS TO GET SAFFERS SALIVATING

From polished summer dishes to bringing back the good old Cremora tart or a boerewors corn dog, these books have a range of tasty ideas.

Food – the common denominator that brings humanity together. It’s also a very personal thing. We all carry family recipes in our hearts, or have fond memories tied to one dish. South African food stories are, however, incredibly diverse – a melting pot of ideas, flavours and styles.

When it comes to our food, the Rainbow Nation moniker holds

From the twins

true. From Malay, European and African influences, South African food is diverse and incredibly varied. You just need to look at the cook books we have available to see how we’ve become united by what we eat.

These are five of the best books for cooks to get a new generation involved with the food of South Africa.

All the authors are based in the country, and all have fantastic ideas for meals that make a house a home.

Done in a flash More LesDaChef Tjaart on the chart

Author: Tjaart Walraven Publisher: Penguin Random House

ISBN: 9781432309534

He’s known for saying “I’ve got flavour” on the Great South African Bake Off, but in Summer Food it’s more about sharing food and cooking tips. It’s a well-rounded guide to polished entertaining and making elevated dishes that aren’t too hard to master. Summer Food is also practical, from how to debone a leg of lamb to searing the perfect tuna, there’s nothing Walraven doesn’t guide you through. If you plan to use your year-end bonus on entertaining, you need this book. – Adriaan Roets

Recipes from communities