Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

Braai Isonka Samanzi Grilled Bread

Isonka samanzi is Xhosa for bread in water or steamed bread. 

Braai Isonka samanzi or grilled bread is made by steaming dough in a cast iron pot on top of braai or BBQ coals until the bread is soft on the inside and brown on the outside.
Braai Isonka Samanzi

Braai Isonka samanzi or grilled bread is made by steaming dough in a cast iron pot on top of braai or BBQ coals until the bread is soft on the inside and brown on the outside. 

Isonka samanzi is Xhosa for bread in water or steamed bread. The uniqueness of this recipe is not the ingredients but the way the bread is baked in a cast iron pot. 

This local Southern African delicacy of homemade baked bread will leave you wanting more.


Braai Isonka Samanzi Grilled Bread

Ingredients

3 ¼ cups bread flour

1 package active dry yeast (.25 ounce)

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 ¼ cups warm water

2 tablespoons soft butter

1 teaspoon salt


Directions

In a large bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water. In a separate bowl, add butter and salt mix well. Lightly alternate stirring in flour and water.  

When the dough slightly sticky to the touch, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes or use the bread hook attachment on your mixer, mix 4-5 minutes.  

Lightly oil a cast iron pot with a lid, place the dough in the pot cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. 

Place lid on pot (oil the top of the lid also) and place on hot coals with no flames for 2 hours.  Bread is ready when a skewer is inserted in the middle of the bread and it comes out clean.

Nelson Mandela former President of South Africa was a Xhosa-speaking Thembu person and is perhaps the most well-known Xhosa.

About the Xhosa tribe of South Africa

The name Xhosa is a generalized term for a diversity of proud clans, the Pondo, Bomvana, Thembu and the Xhosa tribe itself. Red and the orange of ochre were the traditional colors of the Xhosa, Tembu, and Bomvana. 

The first group of early Nguni immigrants to migrate to South Africa consisted of the Xhosa, the Thembu, and Pondo. Nelson Mandela former President of South Africa was a Xhosa-speaking Thembu person and is perhaps the most well-known Xhosa. 

Xhosa culture is rich in tradition, food, and sport. Xhosa people have a rich oral history and act as walking history books; they preserve ancient stories and traditions. Their inherited custom was passed down through generations. This passing down of oral history through proverbs is one of the most distinctive traits of the Xhosa.

More bread recipes to make right now so you never have to eat plain white bread again.

  1. Curry Roti Bread Recipe
  2. African Veggie Bread Bowl Recipe
  3. Vetkoek South African Fat Cake Recipe
  4. Boerewors and Sandwiches
  5. South African Freedom Amasi Scones Recipe

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

Chic African Culture

Be better than average and support African history and culture. Since 2008 Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet highlight Africa through her food and culture. Contact us culture1africangourmet@gmail.com

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