Nothing quite compares to a good old-fashioned South African potjiekos! And if you find yourself somewhere in the world where potjiekos isn’t a staple, it’s time to get your potjiekos pot on the fire and put it to work. The great thing about potjiekos is that you can make it anywhere. You merely need the right pot, a fire, and of course, the ingredients, which are readily available absolutely anywhere.

At FinGlobal, we’re team potjie! And because we love it so much, we thought we’d share one of our favourite recipes with you. This potjie recipe is a little different from the norm in that it includes beer, coke, and beef. Okay, the beef is not so unusual! The flavours complement each other well. Be prepared; once you’ve tasted it, you will want to make this beef potjie over and over again.

Let’s jump right in!

 

How to make beer, coke & beef potjie

Creating this potjie is actually quite easy. Once you got the ingredients bubbling and boiling, all that’s really left to do is sit back and enjoy the moments slipping by. Your pot will be on the fire for around 2.5 to 3 hours, so gather your family and friends to spend some quality time while your delicious meal takes care of itself.

 

In loving memory of Ben Kruger, who lost the battle to Covid-19 on 25 May 2021:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hYafjujZis

 

What You Need

• 375ml Coke
• 275ml beer (our favourite is Hansa)
• 500ml beef stock
• 1 packet of tomato soup
• Flour for dusting
• Paprika
• 2kg of beef (goulash is a good option)
• 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 4 medium-sized onions sliced thinly
• 2 tablespoons of white sugar
• 2 handfuls of green beans halved
• 8 carrots cut into chunks
• 2 garlic cloves grated finely
• Mixed herbs (dry)
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons of vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of cornflour
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Plastic bag

 

What to Do

• First, place the flour and paprika into the plastic bag. You will use the bag to coat the meat roughly.
• Add the beef goulash to the plastic bag, tie it closed, and shake the bag hard to coat the meat in the flour and paprika.
• Place the butter and oil into a pot and melt together on medium heat. Only start adding ingredients to the pot when the butter melts entirely.
• Add the onions to the pot and when they turn slightly translucent, add the meat and sugar. At this point, you can add a little salt to bring out the flavour of the beef and onions.
• Fry the meat and onions until they start to brown, and then add the beans, garlic, and carrots and simmer with the lid on for several minutes.
• Stir the dry herbs into the pot and add the beer, coke, and stock. Stir in and allow to start bubbling before you add the soup powder and the bay leaves.
• Place the lid on the pot and let the potjie get to work – leave the pot simmering for around 2.5 hours.
• In a jug or cup, mix the cornflour and vinegar to make a smooth paste.
• Add the vinegar paste to the potjiekos pot and stir lightly – the sauce should start to thicken.
• Let the ingredients simmer for around 20 minutes.
• Remove the potjie pot from the heat and allow the ingredients to “rest” for at least 20 minutes before dishing up. Allowing the pot and its contents to rest allows the flavours to really settle in, and of course, the potjiekos will be at a comfortable eating temperature.

Now that you have the perfect potjiekos recipe, what can you serve the dish with? Let’s talk about side dishes briefly.

 

Best side dishes for potjiekos

One of the best things about potjiekos is that it is versatile enough to be thoroughly enjoyed with various types of side dishes. The side dishes don’t have to be elaborate as the potjiekos will be saucy and flavourful already. Some of our favourite side dish options are below:

• Potbrood (this is great to make at the same time as the potjie is cooking)
• Pap
• Rice
• Noodles
• Potato salad
• Three-bean salad
• Fresh bread
• Vetkoek
• Quinoa
• Couscous
• Naan bread
• Garlic rolls
• Papadums

If you’re hosting guests, it’s a good idea to give them some variety when it comes to side dishes. Perhaps fresh bread and rice or another combination of sides. Provide one or even two of these side dishes, and your potjiekos recipe will be a big hit! Be prepared to be asked for your secret ingredients, which of course, you will know – it all comes down to the beer and the coke!

Last but not least, enjoy!

 

Turn to FinGlobal for all your tax and financial emigration planning

At FinGlobal we’re always keen to share a good recipe, just like we are keen to provide exceptional customer service. With ten years of experience in the industry, we are well versed in the ins and outs of tax and financial emigration from South Africa. Whether you are already living overseas or thinking about making a move in the near future, we can assist with various migration-related financial services.

Whether you need assistance accessing your retirement funds from abroad or need some advice and guidance when it comes to your tax and financial emigration obligations when leaving the country, we’re the team to assist you! All you have to do is get in touch with us to discuss your needs and requirements. You can give us a call on +27 28 312 2764 or email us at info@finglobal.com for more information and advice.