In South Africa, we have a fantastic traditional outdoor dish called Potjiekos. Today I’m with my good friend John, and in this video we are going to make traditional chicken potjiekos and bread together in one pot. This is a curried chicken and vegetable potjie with Potbrood (Pot Bread) cooked on a fire.
Potjiekos is a popular South African way of slow cooking a layered stew in a three-legged cast-iron pot on a hot fire – often around the campsite. Potjiekos is traced back to the Dutch settlers who landed in South Africa in the 17th Century. Potjiekos means “small-pot food”. While there are many great recipes available, the fun part of a Potjie is adding whatever you feel like to the pot. The biggest challenge with a Potjie is choosing what meat you are going to cook. Chicken, beef, lamb and seafood are equally delicious in a Potjie. It is such an easy dish to cook, and the variety of vegetables you put in it is up to your imagination and the pot size. We sometimes add either white or red wine depending on the meat, red typically being a complement to beef.


The Potjiekos has been known to cause trouble amongst friends in South Africa over the issue of whether to stir the Potjie once all the ingredients are in, or not to stir. The correct way of course, is not to stir, as it helps prevent the ingredients from breaking apart and becoming a “sauce mush”.
Whichever way you prefer, it is a delicious meal and fun time for family and friends while watching the pot sizzle away on the fire. And if by any chance there are leftovers, they always taste better the next day on bread.
Let us know what your favourite Potjiekos recipe is. Enjoy!




