Namibian cuisine: Sampling local delicacies and traditional dishes

What can be a better dive into a culture than trying the traditional dishes of Namibia? The local cuisine can amaze you with extraordinary meal components and authentic cooking methods, which will not leave you indifferent. What are they - the local delicacies of Namibia? Here is our list of top dishes to taste in The Land of the Brave!

Potjiekos

Start your Namibian cuisine adventure by sampling one of the most iconic dishes in the country - Potjiekos. Traditionally, the main ingredients include cauliflower, some veggies, and game meat (warthog, guinea fowl, or bushpig), but modern chefs use any meat they wish. The cooking process requires ingredients to slowly simmer in a three-legged pot without stirring so the flavour of each component remains at the end.

© EKK Events

Potjieko's serving varies and depends on the chef's preferences, but you can expect rice, pasta, or freshly baked bread near your pot. If you cook the dish yourself, be ready for 3 or 6 hours of cooking in the open air while chatting with friends!

Omagungu

The other name for this dish is Mopani Worms, and, believe us, this dish is beyond extraordinary, especially if you have never eaten Namibian meals. The core dish components are the caterpillars of Gonimbrasia belina, collected from Mopane trees. Other steps of the cooking process include frying the caterpillars with chilies, tomatoes, or onions until they turn crispy and tasty.

Feel free to taste Omagungu in one of the traditional restaurants of Namibia - Okasmiley. Book a cheap car hire in Windhoek, and do not hesitate to drive to the restaurant to try something so unique and crispy as Mopani Worms!

Left: © Gondwana Collection   |   Right: © JackyR

Oshingali

So basically, Oshingali is a traditional puree popular in the northern central regions in Oshiwambo cultures. The dish consists of white beans, which you peel before cooking, and some chefs add salt or paprika for flavour. The cooking process requires you to soak the beans in water, and then cook them on an open fire.

The serving differs again, and some restaurants offer you to create your own dish, which will include Oshingali. For example, if you book a car for hire and drive from Windhoek to Swakopmund, you will find a Hafeni Traditional Restaurant, where you can order bean puree in combination with something else.

Biltong

© Delia du Plessis

Who knew that the method of storing meat would transform into a cooking recipe for a new snack? Yes, Biltong is considered a snack made of different types of meat, but usually, it is kudu or springbok. The chef cuts the meat into small pieces, marinates them in vinegar and salt, and then lets them dry for a while. As a result - you get a tasty salty snack that you cannot stop consuming!

Trying Biltong is possible in one of the restaurants of Windhoek called Butcher Block Namibia, where they serve this dish with mushrooms, bacon, and onions. Take a taxi or choose one of the best affordable car rental offers in Windhoek, and the Butcher Block Namibia will open its doors for you in only 12 minutes.

Boerewors

Sausage lovers, you will like it - Boerewors are traditional "farmer sausages" whose recipes took inspiration from European cuisine. The main ingredient is meat, which can be beef, lamb, or even pork, which you need to marinate in salt and vinegar while making a mixture for cooking. After that, some spices can be added, and then the mixture is put in a sausage casing. Everyone knows that the best Boerewors are the ones cooked on an open fire or prepared in a pan. Choose the serving you like more, but battered barbecue bread or a salad are the best!

© SATempest at English Wikipedia

Kapana

Cut the beef into small pieces, grill them with your special secret ingredient, serve while cooking at a stall or market and here it is - Kapana. It is usually served with such options like mashed potatoes, salad, or some popular Namibian drinks. The most popular ingredients that go with meat include chili, salt, and a sauce that consists of tomatoes and onions. Fun fact: You can find the best variations of this dish in Windhoek or in Katutura, but every cook prepares Kapana in his own unique way.

© Nela Shiekemeni

Author: Elizabeth Smith