Whether you’re planning weeknight dinners or looking for a weekend baking project, this week’s recipe collection has you covered. From hearty chicken cacciatore and slow-cooked lamb knuckle curry to homemade five-grain bread, decadent chocolate malva pudding and a cream cheese-filled banana bread, there’s something to satisfy every winter craving. Weekly recipe roundup 1. Five-grain bread recipe https://www.foodandhome.co.za/recipes/five-grain-bread-recipe 2. Chicken cacciatore https://www.foodandhome.co.za/recipes/chicken-cacciatore-2 4. Lamb knuckle curry https://www.foodandhome.co.za/recipes/lamb-knuckle-curry 5. Granadilla, lemon and thyme loaf cake https://www.foodandhome.co.za/recipes/granadilla-lemon-and-thyme-loaf-cake 6. Savoury pork sausage and cabbage skillet https://www.foodandhome.co.za/recipes/savoury-pork-sausage-and-cabbage-skillet 7. Macadamia za’atar-crusted cauliflower steaks with butter bean purée https://www.foodandhome.co.za/recipes/macadamia-zaatar-crusted-cauliflower-steaks-with-butter-bean-puree 8. Chocolate…
Johannesburg’s lunch culture is changing, and more people are choosing to drink less, eat lighter and make healthier choices without giving up the pleasure of a great meal. Whether it’s friends gathering around a table on a Friday afternoon, mothers carving out time for a long lunch, busy professionals stealing an hour away from the boardroom, or diners simply looking for something delicious that won’t leave them feeling sluggish, there is a growing appetite for meals that feel balanced, fresh and full of flavour. Responding to this shift, The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg has introduced a new five-course Prix Fixe…
Winter might not seem like the most abundant season in the garden, but it’s actually one of the best times to enjoy a wide variety of fresh, flavour-packed fruits and vegetables. Buying produce that’s in season often means better taste, better value, and ingredients that are naturally suited to the colder months. If you’re planning your weekly meals or heading to your local farmers’ market, here’s a guide to the winter vegetables and fruits that are typically at their peak during South Africa’s colder season. Winter vegetables in season Broccoli One of winter’s star vegetables, broccoli thrives in cooler weather.…
Beetroots are a loved root vegetable in South Africa. Whether pickled, roasted or boiled, beetroots aren’t only versatile in the kitchen, but their health benefits also range widely. Coming in at around R20 a kilo, beetroots are worthy budget-friendly additions to any grocery list. Read on and discover all you need to know about beetroots, their health benefits, and some of our favourite recipes to make with this budget veggie. Everything you need to know about beetroots Beetroots, also known as Beta vulgaris, red beet, table beet and garden beet, are a root vegetable that is packed with nutrients and comes…
While technically a fruit, butternuts are praised for their versatility and sweet, nutty flavour in the kitchen. Coming in at around R24 to R28 per kilogram for individuals, and R10 to R15 per kilogram for bulk bags, butternuts easily fit into any budget. While they are a winter squash, you can find them year-round – meaning you have access to a whole lot of budget-friendly recipes throughout every season. Find out how you can make the most out of this budget veggie below. Everything you need to know about butternuts Butternuts, more formally known as Cucurbita moschata, are technically speaking…
There’s something deeply comforting about opening the pantry and knowing dinner is already halfway sorted. No expensive ingredients, no last-minute dash to the shops – just a humble bag of lentils, a tin of chickpeas, or a jar of beans waiting to work their magic. Pulses may not be flashy, but they’re the quiet overachievers of the kitchen. Affordable, nourishing and endlessly versatile, these cupboard classics have earned their place in everyday cooking – especially when stretching groceries a little further matters. Read more: Budget Veggie Series: Carrots The best part? They do far more than bulk up a meal. Beans, lentils, split peas and chickpeas…
There’s something deeply comforting about a pot of soup bubbling away on the stove. It fills the kitchen with warmth, makes enough to feed a small village, and somehow still leaves you with leftovers. The good kind. The kind that deserves a second round – not a sad, freezer-burnt fate. Freezing soup is one of those kitchen habits that makes life easier. A little effort today means lunch sorted next week, and fewer ingredients heading for the bin. Which soups freeze best? Some soups are practically made for freezer life. These tend to keep their flavour and texture well: Chicken and vegetable broth-based…
Native to Europe and Southwestern Asia, Carrots are a beloved and budget-friendly root vegetable. Varying in shape, size and colour, they are highly nutritious, tasty and around R12 to R20 per kilo – making them a no-brainer addition to your groceries. They’re also available year-round and work for both summer and winter dishes (and everything in between). Find out how you can make the most out of this budget veggie below. Everything you need to know about carrots Daucus carota, a.k.a the carrot, is a root vegetable grown and cultivated the world over for its sweet crunch and myriad…
There’s a certain kind of cooking that only makes sense when the air turns crisp – slower, heartier and far more comforting. It’s the season of one-pot wonders, oven trays piled high, and vegetables that truly come into their own. Right now, it’s all about making the most of Autumn and Winter’s hardworking produce. At the heart of it all are the golden favourites: pumpkin and butternut. Sweet, nutty and wonderfully versatile, they’re the base of everything from silky soups to roasted sides with crispy edges. A sprinkle of warming spices or a drizzle of honey takes them from simple…
Next up in our budget veggie series is everything you need to know about lentils. Priced around R30 for 500 grams, lentils are not only affordable, but also packed with nutrition and health benefits (not to mention the perfect ingredient to have stocked up for colder days). Find out how you can get the most bang for your buck for these tiny, humble and unassuming legumes below. Everything you need to know about lentils Lentils are an annual legume that produce lens-shaped seeds, otherwise known as pulses. The plant grows about 40 cm tall, the seeds grow in pods,…
Open your fridge after a grocery run and chances are you’ll slide fresh produce into the first open space you see. A shelf here, a drawer there. It seems harmless enough. But that small habit could be the reason your spinach wilts too quickly or your herbs turn limp before the week is over. The most misunderstood spot in your fridge? The crisper drawer. And despite its name, many of us aren’t actually using it the way it was designed. More than just extra storage The crisper drawer isn’t simply a place to hide vegetables you forgot you bought. It’s designed to create a slightly different climate from the rest of the fridge – one…
If you’ve been tempted by those sculptural mushrooms at your local market, this is your sign to take them home. Blue oyster and lion’s mane may both fall under the “exotic” umbrella, but in the kitchen they behave very differently. Once you know how each cooks, you’ll reach for them with confidence. Here’s what sets them apart – and how to make them shine. Flavour and texture Blue oyster mushrooms are soft and elegant, with rippled caps in shades of blue-grey. Their flavour is gently savoury with a subtle umami depth. Cooked quickly, the edges turn crisp while the centres…
Bursting with flavours, these crispy, crunchy Braaied pork hot dogs with slaw are the perfect lunch time meal. There’s something undeniably nostalgic about a hot dog sizzling over open flames – and this braaied version takes the classic to bold, proudly South African heights. Juicy pork sausages are flame-grilled until lightly charred and smoky, then nestled into soft, toasted rolls and topped with a vibrant, crunchy slaw that delivers freshness in every bite. The slaw is a crisp medley of shredded cabbage, carrot and fresh herbs, lightly dressed to balance creamy tang with a touch of sweetness and acidity. Perfect…
The new year is unavoidably reflective. December’s excess has receded; the champagne flutes are boxed away, the reservation calendar thins, and resolutions hover briefly before dissolving into something more realistic. What remains is a clearer sense of what we actually want to eat, drink, and gather around. Not what went viral. Not what photographed well for three weeks. But what endured, what exhausted us, and what is quietly inching its way onto menus and into our homes. In South Africa, this reckoning feels especially sharp. The cost of living has narrowed our appetite for novelty-for-novelty’s sake. Diners are cautious, more deliberate, and increasingly…
A lot of people swear by buying in bulk – and I’m definitely one of them. When done right, bulk buying can make your groceries last longer, score you better prices, keep your pantry, fridge, and freezer well-stocked, cut budget costs, cut down on last-minute grocery runs, and give you more freedom to shake up your weekly dinner routine (which, let’s be honest, can get pretty repetitive). That’s why we’ve put together this handy listicle to help you decide which foods are truly worth buying in bulk, why they’re suited to it, how long they last, and the best ways…














