Isonka Samanzi: Traditional Xhosa Braai Steamed Bread Recipe
Isonka samanzi is Xhosa for bread in water or steamed bread.
Braai Isonka Samanzi — soft steamed bread made in a cast iron pot over coals.
Braai Isonka samanzi or grilled steamed bread is made by cooking dough in a cast iron pot on top of braai coals until soft inside and browned outside. The uniqueness of this recipe lies not in the ingredients but in its traditional preparation method, passed down through generations of Xhosa cooks.
Braai Isonka Samanzi Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cups bread flour
- 1 package active dry yeast (0.25 ounce)
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 ¼ cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons soft butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
Directions
- Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water. In another bowl, mix butter and salt, then add flour alternately with water.
- Knead until smooth and elastic (10 minutes by hand or 4–5 minutes with a dough hook).
- Lightly oil a cast iron pot, place dough inside, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
- Cover the pot with a lid, oiling the top, and set it on hot coals (not flames) for 2 hours.
- Test with a skewer—if it comes out clean, the bread is ready. Soft inside, browned outside.
Nelson Mandela — Xhosa-speaking Thembu, a symbol of resilience and heritage.
About the Xhosa People
The name Xhosa represents a family of proud clans — the Pondo, Bomvana, Thembu, and Xhosa tribe itself. Red and orange ochre marked traditional attire. The Xhosa were among the first Nguni-speaking groups to migrate south, bringing deep oral traditions, music, and foodways that still thrive today. Their oral storytelling and proverb-based wisdom remain central to African heritage.
More African bread recipes you can bake today for a taste of heritage.
- Curry Roti Bread Recipe
- African Veggie Bread Bowl Recipe
- Vetkoek South African Fat Cake Recipe
- Boerewors Sandwich Recipe
- South African Amasi Scones Recipe
Explore more South African food traditions in the African Bread Recipes Hub and the Everyday African Meals Hub.
