Monthly Mingle – South Africa

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Four years ago I started the Monthly Mingle. 2006 and Germany was hosting the World Soccer Championship, making me choose my first theme for the Monthly Mingle in the heat of the nations craze - Football's Coming Home. It was a small mingle but I was happy for the turn out. Four years later and all eyes are turned towards South Africa and things with the Mingle seem to come full circle. 

This World Soccer Championship promises to be one filled with a lot of emotion, culture and excitement. South Africa is a country that has always intrigued me and is definitely one of my dream destinations. Just like the country the cuisine of this gorgeous country is a kaleidoscope of flavors and aromas and truly worth the homage.

The pre-colonial South Africa was largely characterized by a variety of fruits, nuts, wild plants and game. Later the European colonists brought their cooking styles with them. Although the cuisine of South Africa is known as Cape Dutch, it was the slaves, imported from Bengal, Java and Malaysia, who influenced the food of South Africa more than anyone else.
With so many exceptional influences, South African dishes portray a wide array of ingredients, spices, herbs and flavors - a foodies dream!

For this Monthly Mingle I would like us to spread the buffet with colorful dishes from incredible South Africa. Whether it's a braai, bobotie or a briyani - anything goes. Do not be intimidated by South African cuisine - it's so full of wonderful variety that with a little bit of research you will be surprised at just how versatile it is. A great read on the cuisine of South Africa can be found here.

Here’s how it works:
  1. Create a dish that fits the South Africa theme as described above.
  2. Post about it on your blog from now till 10 May 2010 (entries must be in English, please).
  3. Your creation should be prepared for the current Monthly Mingle theme and only shared with a maximum of 2 other blog events. Let's try and keep the creations as fresh as the ingredients you use.
  4. You must provide a link to this post and/or the official Monthly Mingle page.
  5. Once you’ve posted your dish, please fill the Monthly Mingle form to send me your entries.

You can easily access the form via the submission button on the sidebar under the Monthly Mingle “Come Mingle With Me" section or via the official Monthly Mingle page.

If you have any questions, queries or issues drop me an email at:
blogmeeta[AT]gmail[DOT]com.

Never miss a mingle! Keep tabs as the Monthly Mingle travels around the world via the MM Calendar


All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2010 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

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28 comments:

  1. Count me in. Can't wait to explore this cuisine.

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  2. Wow! A great theme! I'm reminded of the amazing meal we had at The Africa Cafe, in Cape Town.

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  3. I think S.Africa is a mingle of cusine itself, so i am so looking forward to the round up. I sure will try to join in.

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  4. What a fantastic idea for the mingle!!! gives me the opportunity to explore another cuisine more!!!

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  5. Oh wow, count me in...just finished off a post I can send to this event!!!!

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  6. Oh this I can definitely do :o) A great and exciting theme Meeta. So many delicious choices hehe. Best I pencil it in so I can remember it. Thank you xx

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  7. Great Theme! I would love to participate if I get my act together - I lived near and travelled extensively in South Africa but never blogged about the food =)

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  8. Such a wonderful theme! Can't wait to take part.

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  9. I can't wait to show off some of our local and lekker food!

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  10. Great choice! And of course I'm not biased at all... ;-)

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  11. Yay! Hope everybody enjoys exploring my home country's cuisine.

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  12. I missed previous mingle and few others as well.But this time count me in. Exciting theme this time.

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  13. South African food?
    I'm really interested to see what this looks like!
    I was lucky enough to stay a few weeks in South Africa, a little bit off Queenstown, in small villages, so when I think of South African food, I'm like, "Ugh, nasty goat". But I'm sure you're thinking differently!
    So I'll have to stick around and see what goes on in this little challenge!
    Have fun!

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  14. This will be my first Monthly Mingle, can't wait to discover the right dish to represent South Africa!
    Count me in!

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  15. Count me in, SA with a twist to follow soon

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  16. I LOVE your blog and I LIVE in South Africa, so I definitely will enter a great recipe... I just have to try and test a bit more before I feel confident of posting! Because I am not a native, just an expat who happens to live in Joburg with a love for cooking, but never really blogs about it. Just my other experiences of living in this rainbow nation.

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  17. Oh I'm in Meeta. Just when I post something from North Africa ( a BIG first for me), unpredictable you announces South Africa! I'm getting huge support from BrownieGirl and CookSister... catch ya at the buffet my lovely!!

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  18. Awww, Meeta - my sister from another mother! :) What a fabulous theme! When I was home a couple of weeks ago there was SUCH a buzz in the air about the FIFA 2010 World cup - the country is positively bursting with excitement! It's a great excuse for people to visit, either in person or by recreating our cuisine in their own kitchens. You are right there are so many influences - indigenous African cuisine, English settlers, Dutch settlers, the slaves they brought from Indonesia and Java, Indian labourers on the sugar cane fields, french Huguenots, and even some strong German influences (our love for sausages!). There is a lot of info on my blog, including an overview of the SA culinary history/scene in my "Cape Town culinary snapshot post and lots of SA recipes in m my recipe index. Can't wait to see the entries! And if anybody has questions abotu ingredients or substitutions, please feel free to ask me :)

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  19. Wow Meeta!!What a coincidence!I am hosting AWED-African cuisine this month!I will surely join in...

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  20. Hiya Meeta, great pick, I love South African cuisine. I just hope I manage to whip up something, n try n participate. It'll be a first for me :-)

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  21. I just discovered your blog and I love a. how interactive you are and b. this theme! With a father who was born and raised in South Africa, I've grown up getting to enjoy just how amazing South African Cuisine is. I've yet to attempt many myself though so I am excited for the challenge.

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  22. This is wonderful. But I am waiting for Rugby World Cup. Please.

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  23. This is perfect. I have been on an African cooking spree! I am organizing an African Day 2010, which falls on May 25th. People are welcome to contribute posts from cuisine around the continent. Please check it out! The diversity is so vast, an army of bloggers will be needed!!! Read more about it!
    http://www.caseyangelova.com/2010/04/africa-day-2010-foodie-event.html

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  24. Hi Meeta,
    Please let me know if my submission didn't go through:
    http://tastespace.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/south-african-spiced-butternut-squash-and-roasted-banana-soup-with-coconut-and-lime/

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  25. Hi Meeta,

    I have sent you 3 of my entries to this event. Please let me know that my entries you have received it or not.

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  26. Here I am with my Melktert.
    Thank you for this Monthly Mingle, it was really interesting!
    http://en.julskitchen.com/dessert/melktert-milk-tart-from-south-africa

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  27. Here is mine

    http://www.papillesetpupilles.fr/2010/05/bobotie-du-cap-recette-dafrique-du-sud.html

    Thank you
    Anne

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  28. Finally the ash cloud lifted long enough for me to get off my butt and into the air to deliver my Month Mingle entry for this current Mingle. Apologies for being later Meeta.
    Hope everyone enjoys my entrant into this challenge. Hugs Colleen xx
    http://browniegirlblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/biltong-potjie-come-mingle-with-me-in-south-africa/#comments

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Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hugs
Meeta