Cape Malay Recipes

Cape Malay cuisine is a cherished South African culinary tradition originating from the enslaved and political exiles brought from Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and India to the Cape by Dutch colonizers in the 17th century. Bobotie (a spiced curried mince baked with egg custard) is the most famous dish, alongside bredies (slow-cooked stews), sosaties (marinated kebabs), and koeksisters (twisted doughnuts in syrup). The Bo-Kaap neighborhood of Cape Town remains the heartland of this cuisine. Distinctive use of turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, and dried fruit creates the cuisine's signature sweet-savory character.