A visit to Johannesburg, South Africa, shouldn’t go down without exploring the city’s vibrant cuisine and sampling a wide range of exciting, unusual, and, in most cases, delicious dishes. If you are not sure where to start, feast on these top three dishes tourists need to try while in Johannesburg.
Umleqwa
Umleqwa is a traditional South African chicken stew cooked from free-range chicken. This chicken meat is tougher compared to traditional chicken meat, but when cooked in dishes like umleqwa, it results in unique flavors. Umleqwa usually pairs cooked free-range chicken meat with thick sauce and various side dishes like beans.
Pap
Pap, also known as mieliepap, is a dish that is enjoyed in Johannesburg and rest of South Africa at any time of the day. It is made from maize meal and is similar to Italian polenta but with a distinct flavor and way of consumption. Locals serve pap with honey and berries or pair it with sausages and other BBQ meat.
Boerewors
Speaking about sausages, you shouldn’t leave Johannesburg without trying boerewors, a traditional South African sausage. The sausage is made with minced beef, pork, lamb, or goat meat, or a combination of several different types of meat and must follow strict guidelines. The content has to be 90% meat, and no more than 30% of used meat can be fat. Usually prepared over a charcoal grill, it is served in a bun paired with tomatoes, chilies, onion relish, and chakalaka, a type of South African veggie relish. It can also be served with mashed potatoes or alongside pap.
