Cook and Enjoy It

Koek en Geniet ( available in English as Cook and Enjoy) is the quintessential South African cookbook. First published in 1961, it has all the recipes a good South African Boeremeisie (Afrikaans Girl) would need to make her Boereseun (Afrikaans Boy) happy.

It gives recipes for large families and everything you would need in order to stand proud at the NG Kerk bazaar.

Last night I made Tomato Bredie (stew), and when you see how few ingredients it uses, you'll understand that this is not a fancy dish made in a modern kitchen. This was made by women who lived hard lives, in the bush. She wouldn't have had access to bay leaves and lemon grass . She had salt and pepper (if she was lucky). This would cook slowly on the back of the coal stove (Agar), while she tendered her vegetable garden.


Tomato Bredie

1 to 1.5kg Mutton ribs chopped into pieces (I actually used leg chops)
1kg Ripe Fresh Tomatoes
2 Medium sized Onions
Cooking Oil
250ml Hot Water
4 Potatoes
6 Peppercorns
10ml Sugar
15ml melted Butter (I used olive oil)
15ml Flour

Wipe the meat with a damp cloth.
Skin and chop the tomatoes.
Peel and slice the onions.
Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan and sauté the onions.
Add the meat and the hot water.
Turn the heat to the lowest and cover with a tight fitting lid and stew for 2 hours.
After 1 hour add the tomatoes, peeled and sliced potatoes, peppercorns, salt, pepper and sugar.
Thicken the stew with a mixture of melted butter and cake flour.
Serve with boiled rice.

You can make this beef ribs.