Welcome
Welcome to Potjiekos World - The Home of Potjiekos on the Web. Welkom by Potjiekos Wereld.
Introduction
Potjiekos in South Africa is food prepared outdoors in a cast iron, round, three legged pot using either wood coals or charcoal.
The Pot
The most versatile pot size is a number 3 – depending on the potjie, it will make a meal for 4 – 6 people.
After buying a pot, it is important to break it in or “cook in” to eliminate any iron taste or black deposit on your food. Scour the inside with sandpaper, wash and grease both the inside and outside with pork fat. Now “cook in” the pot by filling it with leftover vegetables or peels and cooking over a slow fire for a few hours. Repeat the process a few times. When finished prepare your potjie for storage by coating the inside of the pot with a thin layer of fat or cooking oil to prevent rusting. After every meal, rinse the pot with warm soapy water and then coat with oil or fat.
The Fire
The fire is a crucial part of creating potjiekos - the potjie has to simmer for some hours and you have to be able to regulate the heat.
One method is to use hard wood or charcoal and make two fires. One to prepare coals and the other to place the coals under the potjie.
Timing is also very important, apart from the time the potjie needs to become cooked you have to factor in the time it takes for the wood or charcoal to become coals, so in most cases you will have to start long before serving.
General Method
The meat usually comes first. Add a dash of cooking oil in the pot and when it is hot add the meat. Add sliced onions and stir the meat to seal in the flavoir. Cook the meat until nearly done. Add vegetables in layers according to cooking times, carrots at the bottom followed by sweet potatoes, potatoes, pumpkin, mushroom etc. Arrange the vegetables in layers around the sides forming a hollow for the rice. Marinade or liquid is now added to about 2 cm under the top layer of vegetables.
Replace the lid and do not stir after this. Keep the pot simmering until done. Before serving, stir through once to ensure the meat and veggies at the bottom will be dished up and enjoy.