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About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage.

Trusted by: WikipediaEmory University African StudiesUniversity of KansasUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalMDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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African Pie Dessert Recipe

Baking a South African milk tart pie puts a creative spin on a classic African dessert recipe.

African food means sharing. Turning a Melktert pie into a super-sized slab pie makes it super easy to cut and serve to a big group. 

The square slices give a fun new look to this classic pie recipe. A slab pie is a shallow pie baked in a rectangular dish, making it simple to divide into smaller portions. 

It's perfect for serving a crowd or bringing to a potluck. Butter, sugar, eggs, and puff pastry make Milk Tart or Melkert the perfect simple African dessert recipe.

African dessert of Melktart slab pie

South African Dessert Melktart Slab Pie.

The name Melktart translates to milk tart in English, highlighting its primary ingredient. Melktart features a delicate balance of vanilla and cinnamon, infusing the creamy custard with warmth and aromatic goodness. 

Melktart uses readily available ingredients like eggs, sugar, flour, and milk. This accessibility ensures that you can easily recreate these recipes in your own kitchen, regardless of where you are.

Melktart is a chilled, delightful dessert that showcases a smooth and creamy custard filling encased in a flaky pastry crust. Slice it into portions and savor the creamy, spice-infused Melktart in every bite. 

Super-Sized South African Melktart Slab Pie

Ingredients:

1 sheet of puff pastry

1/2 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon of salt

4 cups of whole milk

4 large eggs

2 tablespoons of butter

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375°F.

Roll out the puff pastry and place it in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Trim the edges and prick the bottom with a fork.

Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a large saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth.

Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly.

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs. Gradually whisk in 1 cup of the hot milk mixture. Whisk the egg mixture back into the saucepan.

Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the filling is set and the crust is golden brown.

Let cool completely before slicing and serving.

Turning a Melktert pie into a slab pie makes it easy to serve to a big group. Butter, sugar, eggs, and puff pastry make Melktert pie a dessert classic.

More easy lunch and dinner recipes to make right now so you never have to eat or prepare a boring recipe again.

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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
African woman farmer

She Feeds Africa

Before sunrise, after sunset, seven days a week — she grows the food that keeps the continent alive.

60–80 % of Africa’s calories come from her hands.
Yet the land, the credit, and the recognition still belong to someone else.

Read her story →

To every mother of millet and miracles —
thank you.

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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.