Sousboontjies
On the Cape farm table, cold dishes made a day ahead were a blessing in the heat of a Swartland summer, and sousboontjies is one of the oldest. Speckled sugar beans are simmered with onion in a sauce of vinegar and sugar until the liquid turns thick and glossy around them, then chilled overnight so the flavour soaks right in. The beans stay creamy inside with a tangy, sweet coating, and the dish sits beside cold meats, quiche and potato salad at Christmas, or with bread and cheese for a light lunch. Taking the pot off too early is the mistake that makes them taste of raw vinegar; let it bubble until the sharpness mellows. Chef's tip: mash a spoonful of the beans into the sauce near the end and it thickens naturally, giving that classic clingy texture.



