Sunday AKA The Wife’s Day Off - Potjiekos recipe and my Polenta

In South Africa, husbands give their wives “the day off” when THEY cook, often on a Sunday, to let them relax and enjoy some leisure time.

It means we don’t have to stand in front of the stove and sweat it out. This day off doesn’t come cheap, though. We earn it. Before we can twiddle our thumbs, we dutifully help with the prep and do other arbitrary tasks like laying the table, peeling vegetables, and making salads, starters, and dessert. We are the gofers and “handlangers” (henchmen). No man worth his salt does it all solo.

Yesterday, while Butch was chopping the celery, he reprimanded me as I watched him, chomping a carrot. He did not appreciate it and said, “For goodness’ sake, will you stop chewing carrots!” I swallowed that carrot immediately and bustled about!

A few weeks ago, we were gifted an outdoor oven. I want to introduce you to ours. It’s a large, stainless-steel, cylindrical pipe on legs, with a door to regulate the heat. Place briquettes on a mesh rack and set them alight. After about 15 minutes, once they’ve reached a good temperature, place a Dutch oven on top, and voilà, a casserole (potjie) can be prepared. Lower the temperature so the potjie can work its magic, slow and low, for a few hours, until the flavours have intensified, and the meat falls off the bone. A backup supply of briquettes can be lit halfway through the cooking process and added to the oven to keep the pot boiling.

This contraption is called a Xandre, after the man who made ours.

Butch researched our recipe, and with a few minor changes, he/we produced a delicious Mediterranean Lamb Knuckle Pot. These recipes are perfect for outdoor family gatherings and camping, giving husbands a chance to give their wives the day off while enjoying good food.

 ---oOo---

 MEDITERRANEAN LAMB KNUCKLE POT

Serves 6-8

1. Heat the pot. Melt the butter, add Olive oil and heat until bubbling.
2. Brown the meat. Remove and keep to the side.
3. Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until the onions are glassy.
4. Add the anchovies; sauté
5. Add the chopped Rosemary
6. Add the carrots, black olives and celery sticks. Saute.
7. Layer the meat on top of the vegetables
8. Cut the tomatoes roughly and layer on top of the meat.
9. Season with salt and pepper
10. Pour the red wine, Worcestershire sauce and stock over the meat
11. Place the thickly sliced lemon on top with the bouquet garni.
12. Cover with a lid, bring the temperature down, and simmer for 120 minutes until the meat is tender.
13. Check the pot halfway through the cooking process. If the pot is very saucy, lift the lid slightly, increase the heat, and cook until the sauce thickens slightly.
14. Be vigilant, as the pot must not burn or dry out. If the pot is too dry, the temperature is too high, and you need to add more stock and red wine. Reduce the heat.
15. Once the casserole has cooked to your requirements, remove the bouquet garni and lemon slices
16. Garnish with the Feta cheese, some freshly chopped herbs and the Caper berries.
17. Serve with creamy Polenta.

---oOo---

CREAMY POLENTA

TIP: FOLLOW THE COOKING INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR PACKET (SUBSTITUTE THE LIQUIDS WITH STOCK, MILK AND BUTTER)

1. Pour all the liquids into a saucepan together with the butter. Bring to a boil.
2. As the liquids heat up, add the polenta and stir until smooth.
3. Season with the black pepper and taste. I do not add more salt.
4. Once the polenta starts boiling, reduce the heat and simmer with a lid on for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.
5. Add half the Parmesan cheese just before serving. Stir. Now check the seasoning again. If you require salt, add some to taste.
6. Pour the cooked polenta into a serving bowl and garnish with the remaining Parmesan cheese and a sprig of chopped parsley.

---oOo---

BAKED TOMATO AND AUBERGINE MEZZE PLATTER.

(Serves 6)

This delicious platter is perfect as a holiday starter. Easy to make and simply delicious, it looks gorgeous and is ideal for Christmas.

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220֩C and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
2. On one half of the tray, place the Rosa tomatoes. Sprinkle with olive oil and massage to coat all the tomatoes.
3. Dust with ground cumin, salt, pepper and brown sugar.
4. Brush both sides of the Aubergine with olive oil and lay out on the tray.
5. Sprinkle the chopped herbs on top.
6. Add the chopped garlic cloves and HALF the lemon zest.
7. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar over all the vegetables.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, until cooked.
9. Blacken slightly by grilling the veggies for a few minutes.
10. Remove from the oven and cool.
11. While the vegetables bake, prepare the yogurt: spoon into a bowl, add 5ml cumin, a pinch of salt, and a good turn of cracked pepper.
12. Add the remaining lemon zest.
13. Mix well and return to the fridge until needed.
14. Just before serving, spoon a thick layer of yogurt onto a medium-sized platter.
15. Carefully arrange the Aubergine on top, followed by the tomatoes, garlic and herbs.
16. Drizzle pan juices over the vegetables.
17. Garnish with a sprinkling of fresh herbs and a good shake of chili flakes.
18. Chopped basil would complement the dish beautifully.
19. Finally, add a drizzle of olive oil for shine and flavour.
20. Serve with a freshly baked French loaf.

 ---oOo---

Lunch was one of our usual long, relaxed affairs, and we caught up with friends. Butch was a star, helping clear up afterwards, and we managed it in a jiffy. I enjoyed my “day off”; Xandre performed as expected, so while the pot simmered gently, I sat with my legs up and surveyed the world. Butch was in high spirits, amusing us with his stories. He gets it. Happy wife, happy life.

Baie dankie, Xandre, dat jy die moeite gedoen het om vir ons hierdie lieflike stofie te maak. Ons weet dat jy altyd baie besig is en dat jou tyd kostbaar is. Ons waardeer jou moeite opreg baie. Van nou af gaan Butch die Potjie koning in ons huis wees.

P.S. I also seasoned the potjie with MONTREAL STEAK SPICE - not readily available in South Africa, but the SAFFAS in Canada can use it!  I saw that one can purchase it online, though. We love it.