Penguin Books

In Timeless South African,  renowned cook and food writer Ilse van der Merwe has compiled a list of 101 iconic South African dishes – food not only revered as highly recognisable heritage classics, but also everyday dishes that are loved and prepared in many South African households today. Well-researched and filled with fascinating anecdotes about South Africa’s rich and diverse cultural history, this book celebrates the country’s unique melting pot of culinary traditions, highlighting the origins of many well-known South African dishes, as well as the ways in which they have been reinvented over time. The recipes for each of the iconic dishes in this book – whether humble or celebratory – are commemorated with full-page, striking photographs.   Do you know your vetkoek from your amagwinya? Or your koeksisters from your koesisters? And do you know the captivating histories of bobotie, the Cape gatsby, hertzoggies and the legendary Durban bunny chow? It is impossible to be an insider in each of the many communities that make up the South African culinary landscape, but one thing we know for sure: food brings people together. The more we share our food and our stories, the more we’ll be able to celebrate what unites us. Watch more videos.