This is where I keep every recipe I’ve tested and tweaked. From hearty Durban curries and fragrant biryanis that taste like home, to South African treats like peppermint crisp tart and eggless snowballs, easy breakfast ideas, indulgent desserts, and refreshing drinks.
This masala chai is warm, spiced, and deeply comforting, made my homemade chai spice mix. You brew it on the stove, water first, then the spice mix, then the tea leaves (or teabags), then the milk, and aerate it at the end to get that…
If you’ve ever wondered what gives a really good cup of chai that warm, aromatic depth, it all comes down to the spice mix. This homemade chai spice mix is made with whole spices — cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, fennel (saunf), black pepper, star anise, and…
My Ma has been making square paratha for as long as I can remember. She folds them quickly, without thinking, the way you do something you’ve done a thousand times, and then she’ll tell you they’re best with a hot cup of tea. By the…
This gram dhal with brinjal is a deeply satisfying Indian dish that is humble in ingredients but big in flavour. This one uses baby brinjal, which melts into the gravy and adds a richness that makes it completely different from a plain dhal. The key…
There’s something special about the way a few humble ingredients can come together to create something truly satisfying. Aloo Palak is one of those recipes. It’s simple, wholesome, and surprisingly delicious. It’s the perfect side dish when you want something quick, healthy, and full of…
In my home, roti was never something you bought. It was made fresh, every time. This roti recipe takes me straight back to my grandmother’s kitchen. It’s soft, buttery, and slightly flaky at the edges. It goes with everything. Curry, a simple tomato chutney, or…
Growing up, the smell of this biryani meant something good was happening. A celebration, a family gathering, a Sunday where nobody was in a hurry. My family’s version has always used a freshly blended green paste – chillies, mint, coriander, and curry leaves, instead of…
Growing up in a Durban Indian household, there was always a container of ginger and garlic paste in the fridge. My mum made it in bulk and it went into almost every pot. It elevates every dish and it far better than anything you’ll find…
These Durban chilli garlic butter prawns are spicy, buttery and garlicky. Juicy prawns are marinated in Kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric, and ginger garlic, then simmered gently in a rich butter sauce infused with curry leaves, garlic, coriander, and chilli. This is not your average garlic…
This Durban Crab Curry recipe is everything a proper South African seafood curry should be. This is my mum’s recipe. It’s bold, spicy, tangy, and deeply comforting. Fresh crab is simmered in a fragrant gravy of curry leaves, green chillies, tamarind, and mixed Kashmiri chilli…
A spicy baked beans recipe made with onions, curry leaves, chillies, tomatoes, and warming spices. These beans are rich, fragrant and perfect served with toast, roti, rice, or alongside a braai. Quick to make and packed with flavour, this easy baked beans recipe transforms a…
This Durban mutton curry is slow cooked with a blend of Indian spices, fresh curry leaves, ginger, garlic and potatoes until the mutton is fall-off-the-bone tender and the gravy is deep, rich, and full of flavour. A beloved dish in South African homes. This Durban…
These Whipped Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes are the ones I make when I want to genuinely impress someone. They taste deeply chocolatey and rich. And the secret? One single ganache does everything. It fills the centre and gets whipped into a light, fluffy frosting on top….
These eggless biscuit balls with chocolate drizzle are buttery and melt in your mouth. They’re made without eggs and without condensed milk, using simple pantry ingredients. Unlike most biscuit ball recipes that use crushed biscuits and condensed milk for a no-bake version, these are baked…
This tinfish biryani is a bold, flavourful South African Durban style biryani made with pilchards, fragrant basmati rice, spiced potato chutney and boiled eggs layered together into one deeply satisfying meal. It is the sort of recipe that has been passed down through South African…
This Indian braised butternut is a simple South African Indian style dish made with just a handful of pantry ingredients. It is soft, slightly sweet, and gently spiced with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and dried red chillies. The butternut cooks down into a melt-in-your-mouth texture,…
This Durban chicken curry is a bold, flavourful South African Indian curry made with tender chicken pieces, warming spices, and soft potatoes in a rich gravy. Growing up in Durban, my mum would cook this curry every other weekend in our home. It’s the kind…
This honeycomb latte recipe is a creamy, café-style iced drink layered with cold milk, fluffy whipped coffee, and crunchy homemade honeycomb toffee. It’s rich, airy, and perfectly balanced with a caramel-like sweetness. The crisp honeycomb melts slightly into the drink while still adding texture, making…
Yellow rice is a rice dish made with turmeric, giving it a golden colour and warm, savoury flavour. This South African yellow rice with vegetables, often called savoury rice, is a flavourful seasoned rice dish perfect for everyday meals. Why You’ll Love This Recipe Reliable…
This Moist Orange Sheet Cake recipe is the only orange cake recipe I will ever use! It’s an easy, simple orange sheet cake made with fresh orange juice and orange zest, and it always comes out soft, fluffy, and packed with natural orange flavor. Baked…
Pineapple fridge tart is a classic South African no-bake dessert made with condensed milk, pineapple, jelly, and Tennis biscuits. It has a creamy, mousse-like texture with a light tropical flavour, making it perfect for hot summer days, braais, and family gatherings. This easy pineapple fridge…
This easy vanilla sheet cake is soft, light, and perfectly fluffy, with a moist crumb and rich buttery flavour. It’s a simple, reliable recipe that turns out beautifully every time, ideal for birthdays, tea time, celebrations, or whenever you need a classic vanilla sponge. Why…
These classic Australian lamingtons have become a much-loved treat in South Africa, where they’re affectionately known as ystervarkies – Afrikaans for “little porcupines” because of their spiky coconut coating. Made with soft sponge cake layered with raspberry jam, dipped in a rich homemade chocolate syrup,…
This easy South African braised cabbage and peas recipe is a simple, flavourful side dish made with sliced cabbage, onions, dried red chillies, and baby peas. Slowly cooked until tender and lightly golden, this comforting dish is commonly served alongside rice, roti, dhal, or curry…