The Classic South African Cookbook, Melinda Roodt

The Classic South African Cookbook

In The Classic South African Cookbook, Melinda Roodt aims to serve as inspiration for people to create a place of loving, sharing and connecting over food.

The Classic South African Cookbook
The Classic South African Cookbook (Christin Boggy-Peyper © Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd 2016)
Chapters are divided into:
  • Breakfasts
  • Starters
  • Salads
  • Soups
  • Breads, quiches and pizzas
  • Pastas
  • Vegetables and sides
  • Fish and seafood
  • Chicken
  • Red meat
  • Cakes, tarts and desserts
  • Rusks, biscuits and sweets
  • Pestos, sauces and jams
Recipes that caught my eye:
  • Cranberry and almond muffins (p22)
  • Grilled baby marrow and green bean salad (p49)
  • Pea, broccoli, bacon and avocado salad (p50)
  • Baby marrow and feta soup (p67)
  • Health bread (p84)
  • Seafood paella (p163)
  • Salt-roasted chicken (p179)
  • Lamb knuckle potjie (p209)
  • Overnight leg of lamb (p214)
  • Dark chocolate ganache gateau (p234)
  • Old-fashioned milk tart (p243)
  • Apple strudel (p254)
  • Chocolate praline meringue with cherries and berries (p261)
  • Chocolate soufflé tart with raspberries (p262)
Milk Tart
Milk Tart
What I made:

I made the milk tart as I was sure this was the same recipe I had made when I was at school. The pastry is amazing and the filling was delicious. It is so easy to make that I can see why it is a firm favourite on many a tea time table. I also made the health bread which is perfect when toasted and served with marmalade. It was a tad bit on the sweet side for me but so easy to make that it will appear in my kitchen again.

My verdict:

Lovely notes with some of the recipes and at the beginning of each chapter. Each chapter has its own quote and photographs of a beautiful array of farm life and food. The food photography is really good and many of the dishes look enticing. I was disappointed that most of the bread recipes call for store bought dough. In the homemade pasta recipe Melinda calls for a litre of cake flour. This is my worst way to measure flour as you don’t know how packed the flour is meant to be.

Health Bread
Health Bread
Publishing information:
ISBN 9781432306731
Format Hardback
Published September 2016 by Struik Lifestyle
RRP = R350.00
Disclosure: I was sent the book to review by Penguin Random House South Africa. I was not required to write a positive review. This post is in line with my blogging policy.
Inspiration published on Lavender and Lime June 28:

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13 thoughts on “The Classic South African Cookbook, Melinda Roodt

  1. Sounds like a wonderful book Tandy, love, love the milk tart. I prefer weighing my baking ingredients so much easier.

  2. This sounds like a fabulous South African cookbook. I am looking for a good melktert recipe so I will definitely look this one up.

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