Seafood Barbeque

Ingredients

·         ¼ cup soy sauce

·         2 tbsp. honey

·         2 tbsp. tomato sauce

·         2 tbsp. sesame seeds

·         1 tbsp. grated lemon rind

·         375 g uncooked large prawns; shelled and deveined but tails left intact

·         250 g calamari (squid) rings

·         250 g boneless fish fillets; cut into thick strips

·         4 potatoes; thinly sliced

·         4 small tomatoes; halved

·         2 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme

·         Freshly ground black pepper

·         Lemon wedges

Preparation

1.       Place soy sauce, honey, tomato sauce, sesame seeds and lemon rind in a shallow glass dish; add prawns, calamari and fish; toss to coat and set aside to marinate for 20 minutes.

2.       Sprinkle potatoes and tomatoes with thyme and black pepper to taste.

3.       Cook potatoes and tomatoes on a well-greased pre-heated hot barbeque plate (griddle) for 10 minutes or until potatoes are crisp and tomatoes soft. Push vegetables to the side of the barbeque to keep warm.

4.       Add seafood mixture to barbeque and cook, turning frequently for 5 minutes or until cooked. As seafood cooks push it to the side to keep warm.

5.       To serve divide potatoes, tomatoes and seafood between serving plates and accompany with wedges of lemon.

Serves 4

Danie de Villiers - Freelance writer

Potato Dessert

This is an extraordinary, traditional dish and dates back to the 19th century pioneer period in South Africa.

Recipe 

Take 1¼ pounds (600 g) mealy potatoes, quite smoothly mashed while hot. Mix in 3 tablespoons butter, 6 tablespoons sugar, 5 beaten eggs, 1 teaspoon salt, and the grated rind of a lemon.

Stir well and pour the mixture into a greased oven-dish and bake in a moderate oven for about 20 minutes. 

Turn out and serve with sifted sugar or jam.

Author’s note: In the 19th century South Africa they used ‘veld-ovens’. Follow this link for more about the veld-ovens of yesteryear. 

Danie de Villiers - Freelance writer and food expert

Braised Lamb with Peppercorns

Ingredients

·         2 tsp. olive oil

·         4 lamb shanks

·         2 onions; cut into wedges

·         1 cup red wine

·         2 cups beef stock

·         1 cup tomato puree

·         1 tbsp. canned green peppercorns; drained

·         4 potatoes; halved

·         4 carrots; halved length wise

Preparation

1.       Heat oil in an oven-proof dish over medium heat. Add shanks and onions and cook for 10 minutes or until brown; turning frequently.

2.       Remove dish from heat; stir in wine, stock, tomato puree and green peppercorn, cover and bake for I hour at 180⁰C (350⁰F); turning occasionally.

3.       Add potatoes and carrots to the meat and bake for 30 minutes longer or until meat and vegetables are tender.

4.       Serve pan juices as a sauce with meat and vegetables.

Serves 4

Danie de Villiers - Freelance writer

Beef and Port Hot Pot

Ingredients

·         2 tsp. vegetable oil

·         1.5 kg roasting beef; in one piece

·         6 sprigs assorted fresh herbs

·         1 cup port

·         2 cups beef stock

·         2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

·         4 potatoes; halved

·         2 parsnips; halved length wise

·         2 carrots; halved length wise

Preparation

1.       Heat oil in a saucepan over a high heat, add beef and cook; turning several times for 5 minutes or until beef is brown.

2.       Tie stems of herbs together and add to pan. Stir in port, stock and Worcestershire sauce and bring to simmering over a medium heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally for 1¼ hour.

3.       Add potatoes, parsnips and carrots and cook for 20 minutes longer or until beef and vegetables are tender; stirring occasionally.

4.       To serve, slice beef and accompany with vegetables and pan juices as a sauce.

Serves 4

Danie de Villiers - Freelance Writer