MZANZI TRAVEL - ISSUE 2

MZANZI FOOD
PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN RECIPES
4 tsp (20 ml) butter
2 cardamom pods, slightly bruised
3 cinnamon sticks
4 lokshen balls or 1 C (250 ml) vermicelli, crushed
¼ C (60 ml) sago, soaked in water
4 C (1 litre) full-cream milk
1 Tbsp (15 ml) rose-water
¼ tsp (1.25 ml) almond essence
½ C (125 ml) sugar
2 Tbsp (30 ml) toasted flaked almonds for garnish
1. Melt the butter over medium heat and add the cardamom pods
and cinnamon sticks.
2. Once the spices start releasing their aromas and the butter is about
to sizzle, add the crushed lokshen or vermicelli.
3. Brown slightly for about 10 minutes, stirring continuously.
4. Add the drained sago, milk, rose-water and almond essence and
simmer for at least 15–20 minutes or until the sago is translucent and
the boeber has thickened slightly.
5. Add the sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Do a taste test
at this stage, as additional sugar may be required.
6. Bring the heat down to a lower setting and allow the boeber to
cook, covered, for a further 15 minutes.
7. Remove from the heat once the boeber has thickened and garnish
with toasted flaked almonds before serving.
Foodie Cariema Isaacs brings you delicious and belly- warming Cape
Malay Flavours inspired by her childhood growing up in the beautiful
Bo-Kaap in the Cape.
Extracted from My Cape Malay Kitchen by Cariema Isaacs (Struik
Lifestyle)
Photograph: © Penguin Random House / Nigel Deary
Notes: Other variations include sultanas and coconut.
Bruising the cardamom pods slightly releases more flavour, which will
infuse the milk.
It’s important to cook all the ingredients over a medium heat.
Anything higher and the butter and vermicelli are likely to burn.
Boeber - Serves 6-8
Boeber originates from Indonesia, where it is known as burbur. The
Indonesian version is much thicker than the Cape Malay boeber and is
eaten as a breakfast porridge. The Cape Malay boeber is a silky sweet,
warm milky drink, which contains sago and vermicelli, is laced with rosewater
and garnished with slivers of almonds. Boeber is really only served
during Ramadan and in most Cape Malay households is served on the
15th night to signify the halfway mark of the fast.
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