Van Dyk - Bundu Food for the African Bush

BUNDU FOOD

for the African Bush

Rita van Dyk

Acknowledgements A special thank you to everyone who shared their recipes with me and to Johan and Concha for being such eager guinea pigs and enthusiastic tasters. I would also like to extend an extremely well deserved thank you to Nelia Richter of DriveOut magazine for all her help and invaluable advice. Published in 2013 by Struik Lifestyle (an imprint of Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd) Company Reg. No 1966/003153/07 Wembley Square, Solan Road, Cape Town 8001 South Africa PO Box 1144 Cape Town 8000 South Africa www.randomstruik.co.za Copyright in published edition: Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd 2013 Copyright in text: Rita van Dyk 2013 Copyright in photographs: Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd Publisher: Linda de Villiers Managing editor: Cecilia Barfield Design manager: Beverley Dodd Editor & indexer: Anja Grobler Designer: Beverley Dodd Photographer: Warren Heath Stylist: Lisa Clark Stylists assistant: Sara Lohmaier Proofreader: Joy Clack (Bushbaby Editorial Services) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, digital, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and the copyright owner(s). ISBN 978 143230 184 2 (Print) Contents Kitchen packing list The aim of this packing list is not to cart along everything that appears on the list.

Rather view it as a guide that you can use to choose things that you are likely to need on your travels. Your motto should be: Pack as little as possible without inconveniencing yourself. The only thing worse than forgetting an essential item is having to unpack for 2 hours simply to get to the egg lifter. Add items to the list that you would not be able to do without. Its always a good idea to go on a camping weekend before you embark on a major safari. This will give you the opportunity to identify those items that you need as well as unnecessary items.

Everyones needs differ. You may dislike drinking coffee out of a tin mug while the next person sees this as an integral part of the safari experience. Always check what the rules and regulations are in terms of food and alcoholic beverages when you are travelling to a neighbouring country. The hardware ammo boxes apron bottle opener camping/fold-out chairs can-opener cast-iron pot corkscrew basin bottles (for milk, juice and water) braai dish braai fork braai grid braai skottel braai tongs braai tripod braai wood or briquettes breadboard bubble wrap cheese cutter cling wrap coffee pot colander cool box cutlery - bread knife - forks - knife sharpener - knives - meat knife - pocket knife - salad spoons - serving spoons - tablespoons - teaspoons - vegetable knife - vegetable peeler - wooden spoons cutting board dishes - marinating dish - pudding dish - salad bowl - serving dishes egg lifter fire lighters - cigarette lighter - matches foil folding table fridge fruit container frying pan gas burner (normal) gas burner (steak plate) gas cylinder gas cylinder attachments - gas bottle extension - gas key(s) arm glasses (cold drink and wine) grater grid brush hand mixer or whisk headlamp headlamp batteries hiking stove ice bags jaffle pan jerry cans for water kebab skewers kettle (fire/gas) measuring cups measuring spoons milk jug mosquito net mugs for coffee, tea oven gloves/welding gloves pans plastic bags (large and small, for leftovers) plastic containers (different sizes, with lids) plates paper plate holders paper plates porridge and pudding bowls potato masher pot holder recipe books rubber bands (to seal open bags of sugar, etc.) sauce brush saucepans scissors screw-top containers serviette holder serviettes table cloth (fabric and/or plastic) teapot - strainer (tea leaves) toothpicks trays vacuum flask(s) water container with tap In the food chest baking powder bicarbonate of soda biltong biscuits: sweet and savoury Bisto bottled sauces bread bread rolls breakfast cereal bully beef butter/margarine canned products - beans - creamed sweet corn - fruit - ham - mussels - tomato-and-onion mix - tomatoes - tuna - vegetables - whole kernel corn cheese chickpeas Chinese rice noodles chocolate chutney cocoa coffee cold drinks cold drink powder condensed milk cooking oil curry powder couscous custard powder desiccated coconut dried fruit dried vegetables dried sausage (drowors) eggs fish flour - bread flour - cake flour - cornflour - self-raising flour fresh fruit fresh vegetables fruit juice gherkins grains herbs and spices honey ice Ideal milk instant mash instant pudding instant sauce instant soup instant yeast jam jelly powder lemon juice liquor long-life cream long-life custard long-life milk mayonnaise mealie meal meat milk powder Milo mustard (powder and prepared) Nestl Caramel Treat nuts oats olive oil olives pasta peanut butter pesto pickled onions polenta popcorn potato chips raisins rice rusks salad dressing soup (packets and canned) soy sauce Spray and Cook spreads (Marmite, fish paste etc.) stock cubes sugar sweets syrup Tabasco tea Thai noodles tomato paste tomato pure tomato sauce vinegar water Worcestershire sauce yoghurt In the cleaning box bleach (Jik) bottle brush broom and dustpan bucket with lid cloths dish cloths dishwashing brush dishwashing liquid Handy Andy nailbrush newspapers paper towels pot scourers rubbish bags rubbish bin scouring sponges soap sponges steel wool washing basin plugs washing up basin(s) washing up cloths wet wipes Ten-day menu in the bush Its easy feeding a group of people on safari if they dont mind eating bully beef on Cream Crackers morning, noon and night. But if they have more sophisticated palates, or are simply fussy eaters, then you have got your work cut out for you. Hopefully this menu for 10 days in the bundu will help.

Remember, the lists are not the be-all and end-all; add a good dash of common sense and adapt them to your needs. For example, theres meat on the packing list, but if youre travelling to a neighbouring country that has meat restrictions, youll need to make a separate list and buy the meat there. Or, say, if you need to drive really far on the fourth day of your holiday and youll only arrive at your destination quite late, you need to ensure that the menu for that day has a supper that can be whipped up in a jiffy. Its definitely not a night for a potjie. It is possible to buy fresh bread, veggies and fruit out in the sticks, but the golden rule is always to be self-sufficient. If youre unsure whether youll find certain foodstuffs at your destination, rather plan ahead and take them along, or take the ingredients to make them.

Whatever the case may be, the 10 pantry items without which you shouldnt even think of going on safari, are standard: salt oil flour (cake flour for bread and vetkoek, and mealie meal for porridge) milk (preferably long-life milk, or powdered milk) onions potatoes tomatoes eggs pasta sugar Day 1 Breakfast: Coffee and rusks. Lunch: Padkos youve made at home, such as hardboiled eggs, meatballs, sarmies (sandwiches) with apricot jam and a flask of coffee or tea. Supper: Matured rump steak; garlic bread in foil (make it at home and wrap it in a plastic bag so that the cool box doesnt reek of garlic for the rest of the trip); mixed salad. Dessert: Blocks of chocolate. Day 2 Breakfast: Bacon or bully beef; eggs; tomatoes; toast. Supper: Sausage (boerewors