South Africa and innovation go hand-in-hand- and where tasty food is, Miami Canners follows! What do you know about the Kota? This versatile and vastly adaptable, proudly South African dish is a hit wherever you go, and can be easily recreated in your kitchen (with the help of your Miami favourites, of course), so why not toss this one into the lunch rotation these December holidays? The whole family is sure to love it!
From Street to Eatery
There’s a reason so many modern chefs love to reinvent street dishes from around the global. They’re inexpensive, quick to throw together, and carry a beautiful taste of the local culture with them. From tourists to locals, everyone loves exploring the tastes of a country through its street food.
The Kota (a word thought to come from the quarter loaf used to make it) is believed to have originated from Soweto, but you’ll find it everywhere in South Africa today. It’s a delicious sandwich powered up to the max- think a hollowed out quarter-loaf, with a tasty layer of seasoned fries (or slap chips, for locals) then packed with delectable layers of egg, cheese, meats, and sauce.
Build Your Own Kota Magic
There’s no one right way to make a kota, so let your imagination run free! This popular take on the classic kota, however, is sure to have your friends and family drooling the moment they take a sniff. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 quartered loaf of white ‘government style’ (unsliced) bread
- Butter, to spread
- 1 tbsp of garlic sauce or Miami braai relish
- Lettuce
- 1 tomato
- Some finely diced onions
- 3 Miami gherkins
- 1 egg, well-done
- 1 slice of cheddar cheese
- 3 fish fingers, fried
- Handful of French fries (slap chip style)
- Chip seasoning of your choice
- 3 pieces of bacon, fried
- 1 beef patty (sweet chilli) or a thick-sliced ham
- Your favourite fast food sauces- think BBQ/tomato or chip sauce
Simply discard the middle section of the bread, spread the butter, and lightly grill it. Then layer your garlic sauce or relish, throw on the salad items and gherkins, then add the egg and cheese.
Now pile on the fish fingers, make a solid layer of chips and season them, then finish with the bacon and patty or ham. If you’d like, you can squeeze a second layer of chips in there, too! Top with your sauces, and enjoy an authentic taste of South Africa!
You can’t go wrong with a filling, delicious kota, so feel free to tinker with this basic recipe to your heart’s content. With a sweet and tangy crunch from your Miami gherkins, and all your favourites piled high in one place, you’re sure to have a new go-to for lunch on the run.