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Posted on 5 December 2013

South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (10)

South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (11)

South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (12)

Christmas time is almost upon us! Here are some ideas for South African Christmas recipes for Christmas lunch or dinner, as well as some tasty treats to cook up before the big feast.

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Christmas nibbles

1. Easy rum and raisin chocolate truffles

A quick, homely chocolate truffle recipe that’s so easy to make even your children can do it.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (13)

2. Christmas santa-berries

These are adorable, delicious and super-easy to make. What’s better than decorations you can eat?
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (14)

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3. Festive sweet and savoury nuts

Easy to make and delicious to snack on at any Christmassy moment.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (15)

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Christmas main dishes

4.Roast duck with honey spice glaze

If you’re of the opinion that Turkey is a place, not a meal, try this roast duck. Crispy skin, juicy meat, and it’s infused with the aromatic glory of Chinese five spice powder.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (16)

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5.Gammon with a sticky orange and ginger glaze

Combine that wholesome smoky flavour of gammon with thisdelicioussweet, spicy citrus and ginger glaze.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (17)

6.Butterflied leg of lamb on the braai

Skip the turkey altogether and put a leg of lamb on the braai. Why not?
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (18)

7.Turkey on the braai with cashew nut stuffing

Our ed’s favourite Christmas recipe.
Get the full recipe here

8.Crayfish and beef fillet

Add a bit of surf to your turf (roast) and mix things up a little by combining crayfish with your beef roast.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (20)

9.Gammon with a pomegranate and pink peppercorn glaze

This elixir of pomegranate syrup, cherry juice and crunchy rosy-pink peppercorns is dead easy to make, and tastes sensational drizzled, warm and syrupy, over a gammon.
Get the full recipe here

10.Mango and macadamia nut turkey stuffing

A must-try, albeit rather unusual, Christmas stuffing.
Get the full recipe here

11.Bacon-wrapped apricot and macadamia nut stuffing balls for roast turkey

If you roll your eyes every year at the wodges of pallid, soggy stuffing that are scooped from the inside of the Christmas turkey, here’s a recipe for you.
Get the full recipe here

12. Christmas gammon glazed with brandy and co*ke

Fancy incorporating a bit of Klippies en co*ke into your Christmas feast?
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (24)

13. The perfect roast lamb

Not a fan of turkey or gammon? Try this delicious roast lamb, made with rosemary and garlic.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (25)

14. Roast potatoes with biltong

To accompany your roast lamb, beef, turkey or glazed gammon make these uniquely South African roast potatoes with biltong.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (26)

15. Shallot and brie tart tatin

This tart tatin is a delicious option for the vegetarians at the Christmas table.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (27)

And for Boxing Day lunch,here are some ideas for using up leftover gammon and turkey.

16.Panettone pudding

Crispy top, gooey centre: bread and butter pudding made with Christmas-spiced Italian bread and a marmalade zing is a great addition to your Christmas table.
Get the full recipe here

17.Tower of ice cream with berries and meringue

Why have ice cream in a bowl? Draw gasps of delight and excitement witha splendid tower of ice cream!
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (28)

18. Ice cream Christmas pudding

Christmas in South Africa is too hot for traditional Christmas pudding. Try this perfectsouthern hemisphere summerice cream Christmas pudding instead.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (29)

19. Christmas mince pies

What’s Christmas without mince pies? This easy recipe will motivate you to make your own – so much better than the store-bought variety.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (30)

20. Christmas cookies

These Christmas cookies are the perfect festive treat to bake for your work colleagues, hairdresser, your kids’ teachers, and Santa Clause.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (31)

21. Christmas ice cream cake with white chocolate and berries

With mushed up mince pies, crushed Crunchies, lots of cream, brandy AND a white chocolate casing, this could well be the ultimate Christmas pudding!
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (32)

22. Boozy, fruity Christmas trifle cake

Easy to make and can be prepared a day (or even two) in advance. Need we say more?
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (33)

23. Amarula malva pudding

If you love pudding but aren’t into candied fruits, bake an easy malva pudding with a boozy touch – it’s sure to please the whole family.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (34)

24. Phyllo crackers with spicy plum filling

A spicy Christmas sweet treat.
Get the full recipe here
South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (35)

25. Quick and easy chocolate and Amarula trifle

If you prefer chocolate to fruit and Amarula to sherry then you’ll love this boozy trifle.
Get the full recipe here

South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (36)

26. Poached prune tart with red wine glaze

Another non-traditional Christmas dessert, this poached prune tart with a red wine glaze is the pudding to make if you’re putting on a sophisticated Christmas meal.
Get the full recipe here

South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (37)

27. Rum egg nog

A delicious traditional Christmas tipple.
Get the full recipe here

Recipes by Jane-Anne Hobbs Rayner, Michelle Parkin, Meg de Jong, Sarah Duff and Cameron Ewart-Smith.

Photos byJane-Anne Hobbs Rayner, Michelle Parkin, Meg de Jong.

Cover photo by Jane-Anne Hobbs Rayner.

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South African Christmas recipes | Getaway Magazine (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular food at Christmas in South Africa? ›

Gammon, a traditional Christmas main course in South Africa, is a type of cured ham typically glazed and roasted. It's often served with a sweet and tangy glaze made from ingredients like honey, mustard, and orange juice. The key to perfect gammon lies in slow roasting to ensure the meat is tender and flavourful.

What is South Africa's Christmas food tradition? ›

Plum pudding, mince pies, vegetables, turkey, yellow rice, roast beef, and other variations of festive dishes add an authentic touch to the celebration. The festival is a carnival-like week of singing, dancing, and feasting.

What is on the menu for people in South Africa at Christmas? ›

The Christmas meal is either turkey, duck, roast beef or suckling pig with yellow rice & raisins and vegetables, followed by Christmas Pudding or a traditional South African dessert called Malva Pudding (sometimes also called Lekker Pudding) - get the recipe.

What is Santa called in South Africa? ›

Santa goes by a few names in South Africa, including Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) and Kersvader (Father Christmas) for those who speak Afrikaans.

What are 5 Christmas traditions in South Africa? ›

6 Christmas traditions you'll only find in Africa
  • Church services and Christmas caroling. ...
  • Special Christmas feasts. ...
  • Not everyone believes in Santa Claus. ...
  • Christmas isn't on the same day everywhere in Africa. ...
  • Gift-giving at Christmas time. ...
  • Unique Christmas decorations.

What do they call Christmas in South Africa? ›

Christmas in South Africa is known as "Kersfees" in Afrikaans and "uKhisimusi" in Zulu. South African Christmas traditions are influenced by a blend of European and African cultures.

What do people in South Africa dine on this delicious December delicacy at Christmas? ›

Christmas pudding, mince pies, and the delightful Malva Pudding are just a few of the sweet treats enjoyed during the festive season in South Africa. Malva Pudding, a delicious and locally invented dessert, is a favorite among South Africans during Christmas celebrations.

What do Africans have for Christmas dinner? ›

In South Africa, a traditional Christmas meal could include dishes such as Pap and Chakalaka, African beef burgers, boerewors (sausages), roast potatoes, sweet potato and butternut bake, salad, and mielie pap (maize porridge).

What do people do in South Africa for Christmas? ›

Most South Africans stay home and spend the day with their families and friends. There will be regular church services should you wish to worship on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

How do South Africans say Merry Christmas? ›

Geseënde Kersfees!

Are special clothes worn on Christmas in South Africa? ›

Clothes among African people in South Africa form a significant part of the Christmas celebration. Traditionally, every year parents in different areas of South Africa buy their kids sets of clothes for Christmas celebrations. These brand new clothes are worn on Christmas day and New Year's day.

How do they decorate for Christmas in South Africa? ›

Decorating the tree

It's common to see people use handmade decorations, bells, and lanterns to decorate their Christmas tree. And if some Africans want to see a little snow, they usually find fake snow at a store to put on their tree.

What food is eaten on Christmas in Africa? ›

Traditional Christmas meals in African countries often feature fish or poultry, starchy sides such as yams or plantains and hearty vegetable dishes. Some everyday dishes may include couscous, soups, stews, tagines, and roasted meats.

What do they eat in Africa for Christmas? ›

And in Most West African Countries, Christmas is about stews, chicken, rice, goat and chin chin. So in the spirit of the holidays, I am sharing with you some of the Popular African Food to Celebrate Christmas that would often, if not always, make an appearance on the Table .

What are 3 traditional Christmas foods? ›

Every family in every part of the world serves their own traditional Christmas foods, but in the U.S., some are enjoyed nationwide:
  • Turkey.
  • Prime Rib.
  • Baked Ham.
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy.
  • Stuffing.
  • Green Bean Casserole.
  • Candied Sweet Potatoes.
  • Roasted Vegetables.
Dec 21, 2023

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