TikTok South Africa- Di kuku scones. Picture: Screengrab, @tiktok
From life to DIY and even food hacks, TikTok South Africa has become the go-to app to share whatever is on your mind, including tips and tricks.
Tik Tok isn’t just an entertainment app but has become a hub for home cooks to learn and add plenty of recipes to their repertoire.
If you remember the heydays of lockdown banana bread, viral pasta and sourdough bread, South African TikTok creators have shared their favourite family dishes in tribute to their heritage.
Just in time for Heritage Day on 24 September, the app has created a hashtag, #RepYourHeritage, for users to post their local food recipes that have been cooked for generations.
South African cuisine is quite diverse, from Indian influence in the popular biryanis and bunny chows to seven colours, Cape Malay and of course shisanyama (braaied meat).
The trick for TikTok food videos is the ingredients need to be minimalist, simple and the video short.
Found on many street corners across many townships, di kuku scones are a daily treat for many locals. The light, fluffy and golden brown scones are tied to celebrations, get-togethers, and are a staple for after tears at funerals.
There is nothing like the feeling of opening a pocket of four-pack scones and devouring them with a cup of tea or coffee. The popularity of di kuku scones is due to a necessity, as making them is affordable and has become a way for many South Africans to make an income.
To achieve the golden top, TikTok user Chef Lala Tee brushes the wet dough with milk instead of egg wash.
Watch
@chef_lala_tee Di kuku scones #createlocal #repyourheritage #recipesoftiktok #scones #jhbtiktokers ♬ Lorch – Kabza De Small & Dj Maphorisa
Considered by some as the national dessert, closely followed by peppermint crisp tart, Malva pudding is still a favourite.
The richly spiced sticky pudding, paired with custard, traces its origins to the Cape Dutch. There are several theories around how it came to be, one of them being that the pudding was named after a woman called Malva, according to lifestyle personality Colin Cowie.
READ NEXT: #HeritageDay: Where does malva pudding come from?
Ranessa Ahmed Rashid has created a one-pot wonder for her malva pudding recipe, making it quite easy to make.
Take a look:
@potspansandpancakes The BEST! ##repyourheritage ##malvapudding ##PPPdesserts ##potspansandpancakes ##desserts ##foodie
♬ Calm Humming – Nasheed
It’s difficult to fully trace the origins of many local dishes, and bunny chow isn’t any different. The quarter or a half loaf of white bread, hollowed in the middle, is filled with Indian curry and was a workman’s meal originally.
The stories of the bunny show date back to when Indian migrant workers arrived in South Africa to work sugar cane plantations. One account suggests that in order for their workers to enjoy their lunch, the most convenient way to transport their curries was to hollow out a loaf of bread.
Bunny chow has evolved over the years and has become part of South African heritage on the food scene. There are much healthier versions today and bunny chow has been likened to a kota as well.
ALSO READ: Joburg vs Durban – who really makes the best curry?
Solina Naidoo has shared her bunny chow recipe, which packs the heat and incorporates the standard base of making a good Indian curry.
Watch:
@perimaskitchen What’s your fave & what did you hear growing up? #RepYourHeritage #keeprising #perimaskitchen #bunnychow #southafricanfood #durban #cnn ♬ Im In Love With A DJ – Album Version – Yvonne Chaka Chaka
South Africans love their meat. Whether on a braai or on the grill, meat is always the main feature on many plates.
Shisanyama is translated as “burnt meat”, meaning cooking meat over a braai or hot coals.
But in South Africa, it has become much more than that. At a well-known shisanyama establishment, people can bring their own meat and they will cook it for you.
The ‘vibes’ include music, drinks and even getting your car washed while you’re having a good time.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: #Heritagemonth: Meet SA’s kota culture
And South Africans know how to have a good time.
Tik Tok user Derek from America was “disappointed” that he was never told about or even heard of shisanyama since he started living in the country. His video has over a million views.
@dee_n_tee you guys betrayed me!???????? Accepting formal apologies in the comments ???? #tiktoksa #southafrica #durban #shisanyama #southafricanfood ♬ original sound – Derek & Thembe
Compiled by Sandisiwe Mbhele