The Roasted Dad’s Recipes
I am an entrepreneur based in Cape Town, South Africa. After the Covid-19 lockdown saw my business in financial distress, cooking was the creative outlet that helped to keep me sane. To keep track of his recipes, and encourage friends and families to join me, he started my instagram account The Roasted Dad.
Fast-forward to late 2021 - on a whim I (encouraged by my wife) enter MasterChef South Africa. It is a crazy time of life: running a 200 people business and struggling to keep it profitable, two small children with a third on the way, and about to move into a new house. But when I get selected to be one of the 20 contestants participating in the fourth season of MasterChef South Africa, I decide to go all in. Leaving my 7-month-pregnant wife to look after their then three and one-year-old children, I battled it out and came back home five weeks later with the trophy and a million rand prize money in my pocket.
It all started with an Instagram account, and then entering -and winning- MasterChef. But The Roasted Dad is so much more now. I now host Private Dinner Parties, Restaurant Take-Overs and Pop-Ups and Cook-with-Me Demos, and am a Key Note Speaker at events. I share recipes on my website and regularly post accommodation and restaurant reviews too. This is a glimpse into the wild and wonderful life I lead with my wife Lianne, and our three children Aiden (7), Olivia (4) and Harvey (2).
After winning MasterChef South Africa, I started sharing recipes on his blog. They are easy to produce at home, using basic cooking techniques with ingredients found at your local grocery store.
Christmas Recipes
As South Africans we love to braai, and what better way to enjoy the great weather this festive season? This outdoor Christmas menu includes a deboned leg of lamb, roasted straight over the coals.
Christmas is traditionally a meat festival, but a good host includes some vegetarian dishes as well, to serve as either a side for the meat-eaters in your midst, or for vegetarians to dish up as their main.
Throw away any other turkey recipe you have and use this one. It’s fail proof!
It takes a bit of planning and preparation to prepare this dish, as you need to start early in the morning or (even better) the day before, but this really comes out in the flavours!
With December here, Christmas is fast approaching and so over the next few weeks I will be sharing my favourite Christmas recipes. This Beetroot Salad with Whipped Feta, Bacon, Roasted Olives and Toasted Pecan Nuts is a crowd pleaser. To make a vegetarian version, you can replace the bacon with citrus slices.
It’s that time of year when limited edition products fill the shelves. Pick n Pay stock these Festive Gammon Sausages only at this time of year, and you’d be silly to miss out! This recipe is a nice Christmas addition that you can’t go wrong with. It only take about an hour to make.
Christmas in the southern hemisphere means that it’s likely to be a hot day. If you want to make an Alfresco lunch, these canapés make a nice light starter. With the colours reminiscent of Christmas, you will impress your dinner guests with the fine dining-style plating, yet actually it’s a simple dish that anyone can make.
How-to Recipes
Cooking on a fire is one of life’s greatest pleasures and it is within our South African culture to make a good potjie.
This recipe is always a winner and super simple!
Pick n Pay has ostrich steak in their Livewell range and it’s great! My wife Lianne (The Roasted Mom) asked me to help her prepare this and I gave her this easy but delicious ostrich steak that she could repeat as a simple 20 minute recipe.
South Africans love a good Braai Broodjie. While South Africans love meat, this vegetarian alternative is a crowdpleaser. And if a braai is not a braai without meat, I challenge you to think differently: a braai is not a braai without a braai broodjie!
Ah, risotto – the creamy, comforting Italian dish that holds a special place in the hearts of food lovers worldwide. While its velvety texture and rich flavours make it a standout dish on restaurant menus, making risotto at yourself at home is not easy. Risotto demands patience and following a few steps religiously.
Make the Fluffiest Flapjacks with Pecan Nut Brittle, a Berry Compote and Cinnamon Greek Yoghurt.
The secret to making the fluffiest flapjacks is in beating the egg whites into soft peaks before gently folding them into the rest of the mixture, being careful not to overmix.
Salad Recipes
Christmas is traditionally a meat festival, but a good host includes some vegetarian dishes as well, to serve as either a side for the meat-eaters in your midst, or for vegetarians to dish up as their main.
With December here, Christmas is fast approaching and so over the next few weeks I will be sharing my favourite Christmas recipes. This Beetroot Salad with Whipped Feta, Bacon, Roasted Olives and Toasted Pecan Nuts is a crowd pleaser. To make a vegetarian version, you can replace the bacon with citrus slices.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: sometimes it’s the simplest salad that’s the biggest hit on the menu.
Blistered tomatoes, bocconcini, basil leaves, a drizzle of olive oil and of course salt and ground pepper.
The recipe is simple, and if you’re looking for step-by-step, this is it!
As South Africans we often tend to make the same old salad to accompany our braai meat: it includes lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. And if we want to get fancy, we add feta. Or olives. Or feta and olives - shoo, then we have really made it a bougie salad. But what if I told you, it could be so much better? A good salad can be eaten as a meal.
Us South Africans love to have a potato salad with a braai but this often doesn’t always help our weight loss plans going into summer. This healthy alternative to the regular potato salad will reduce your calorie intake yet still makes a delicious side dish to serve alongside your chops at your next braai!
I love a good steak, and often make a chimichurri to go with it. But this time I decided to make a salsa with the rump steak. Find the recipe on my blog make this at home!
Many people are not confident cooking duck. If you don’t know how to prepare it properly, duck leg can be tough or even dry. But when cooked well, it is delicious.
I love the recipe as you get an amazing result without the feeling of excessive cooking times. It is a bit of a cheat confit in terms of time.
It’s that time of year when limited edition products fill the shelves. Pick n Pay stock these Festive Gammon Sausages only at this time of year, and you’d be silly to miss out! This recipe is a nice Christmas addition that you can’t go wrong with. It only take about an hour to make.
Steak Recipes
I made this steak sandwich the other day and whilst easy to put together, the flavours are out of this world. Adding a mouth watering steak to a sandwich is always a good idea, but in this case I elevated it by using a T-Bone. The combination of Hellmann’s mayonnaise and French mustard is to die for and to use both pickled onions and ‘normal’ onions, your steak sandwich gets an extra punch! Adding some honey for sweetness and truffle oil to really impress your guests and you have a steak sandwich that’s come down straight from heaven. Try make it yourself and tell me if I’m wrong, but I’m definitely making this one again!
Pick n Pay has ostrich steak in their Livewell range and it’s great! My wife Lianne (The Roasted Mom) asked me to help her prepare this and I gave her this easy but delicious ostrich steak that she could repeat as a simple 20 minute recipe.
I love a good steak, and often make a chimichurri to go with it. But this time I decided to make a salsa with the rump steak. Find the recipe on my blog make this at home!
After travelling to Florence I have dreams of the amazing florentine steak! Here are some of the secrets to cooking the perfect Bistecca alla Fiorentina, the renowned Florentine steak. Brace yourself for an explosion of flavour!
Chicken Recipes
As South Africans we often tend to make the same old salad to accompany our braai meat: it includes lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. And if we want to get fancy, we add feta. Or olives. Or feta and olives - shoo, then we have really made it a bougie salad. But what if I told you, it could be so much better? A good salad can be eaten as a meal.
If you have followed me since I won MasterChef South Africa in 2022, you will know that I like to do things a little different. I love a Spanish paella, but what would it be to cook it South African style? I decided to cook one on a skottel braai, and it was delicious! Check the recipe below, and try it for yourself!
This Parmesan Mayonnaise Chicken recipe will become an instant favourite for both family dinners and gatherings with friends.
Pork Recipes
After Christmas there are often many leftovers. Why not make a Gammon Braai Broodjie with your leftover gammon on boxing day?
This is a simple recipe that you can quickly put together. All ingredients are available at your local Pick n Pay.
Lamb Recipes
As South Africans we love to braai, and what better way to enjoy the great weather this festive season? This outdoor Christmas menu includes a deboned leg of lamb, roasted straight over the coals.
It takes a bit of planning and preparation to prepare this dish, as you need to start early in the morning or (even better) the day before, but this really comes out in the flavours!
Cooking on a fire is one of life’s greatest pleasures and it is within our South African culture to make a good potjie.
This recipe is always a winner and super simple!
Lamb Lollipops are basically deboned lamb chops, rolled on a skewer. You can either buy them ready-made, or buy deboned lamb ribs and roll your own and push a skewer through.
I recently made this fish dish live on the Expresso Morning Show (‘you’re feel-good breakfast show’), which was a lot more difficult than cooking in the comfort of my home, let me tell you! Try out the recipe at home…
My second time on “Your Feel Good Morning Show" was a lot less nerve wracking than the first time I was a guest on the Expresso show. I knew what to expect this time. This is the recipe for the grilled lamb dish I made on the show.
For this recipe, I embraced my inner caveman by cooking a leg of lamb above an open fire. Try it yourself at home!
Duck Recipes
Many people are not confident cooking duck. If you don’t know how to prepare it properly, duck leg can be tough or even dry. But when cooked well, it is delicious.
I love the recipe as you get an amazing result without the feeling of excessive cooking times. It is a bit of a cheat confit in terms of time.
Duck is something most people only eat when they have ordered it in a restaurant. Few people know how to cook duck. If not done well, duck can be tough or even dry. But when cooked well, it is delicious. This recipe has the step-by-step instructions that you may need to get a well-cooked duck without fuss.
Turkey Recipes
Throw away any other turkey recipe you have and use this one. It’s fail proof!
Seafood Recipes
If you have followed me since I won MasterChef South Africa in 2022, you will know that I like to do things a little different. I love a Spanish paella, but what would it be to cook it South African style? I decided to cook one on a skottel braai, and it was delicious! Check the recipe below, and try it for yourself!
When Pick n Pay sent me these wok cucumbers, my first reaction was “What the wok?”
But after working with this beautiful ingredient I am hooked. Use the cucumber as a replacement for marrows and in stir fry, it’s divine!
Indulge in the rich flavors of Cape Malay cuisine with this easy but delicious Prawn Lentil Dahl recipe. Perfect for family dinners or special occasions, the recipe combines basic ingredients such as lentils, and traditional Cape Maly spices, with prawns, elevating it to impress your dinner party guests! This dish will tantalise your taste buds and transport you to the vibrant streets of Cape Town.
Conceptualised by MasterChef winner Shawn Godfrey, this Yellowfin Tuna Steaks recipe will impress your guests! Perfect for seafood lovers looking to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal at home.
This Tuna Steak recipe contain a fusion Asian-inspired ingredients and is accompanied by a tantalizing medley of wok cucumbers, curry tofu, crisp radish, and toasted almonds.
Christmas in the southern hemisphere means that it’s likely to be a hot day. If you want to make an Alfresco lunch, these canapés make a nice light starter. With the colours reminiscent of Christmas, you will impress your dinner guests with the fine dining-style plating, yet actually it’s a simple dish that anyone can make.
Vegetarian Recipes
With December here, Christmas is fast approaching and so over the next few weeks I will be sharing my favourite Christmas recipes. This Beetroot Salad with Whipped Feta, Bacon, Roasted Olives and Toasted Pecan Nuts is a crowd pleaser. To make a vegetarian version, you can replace the bacon with citrus slices.
Generally asparagus are pan-fried with a little olive oil, and some salt and pepper. But if you’re wanting to serve up a more exciting asparagus side, look no further! This recipe includes some exotic ingredients which come together in a flavour combination that no one will be able to resist. Sometimes a side becomes more popular than the main meal, and this roasted asparagus dish has that potential!
I love cheese, and cheese is even better when it’s melted. This recipe is a delicious, but simple starter made with Goat’s Cheese camembert. It can be served as a starter or a snack, with some toasted ciabatta or crackers. Let everyone dip in and you will see, soon there will be nothing left!
South African Recipes
South African food culture includes many international influences. I love Mexican food, but also enjoy adding South African flavours to it. I cooked these bobotie-inspired quesadilla fold overs on the Expresso show using the Kiln pizza oven, and they turned out great! Try the recipe yourself and let me know what you think.
Cooking on a fire is one of life’s greatest pleasures and it is within our South African culture to make a good potjie.
This recipe is always a winner and super simple!
Pick n Pay has ostrich steak in their Livewell range and it’s great! My wife Lianne (The Roasted Mom) asked me to help her prepare this and I gave her this easy but delicious ostrich steak that she could repeat as a simple 20 minute recipe.
If you have followed me since I won MasterChef South Africa in 2022, you will know that I like to do things a little different. I love a Spanish paella, but what would it be to cook it South African style? I decided to cook one on a skottel braai, and it was delicious! Check the recipe below, and try it for yourself!
Indulge in the rich flavors of Cape Malay cuisine with this easy but delicious Prawn Lentil Dahl recipe. Perfect for family dinners or special occasions, the recipe combines basic ingredients such as lentils, and traditional Cape Maly spices, with prawns, elevating it to impress your dinner party guests! This dish will tantalise your taste buds and transport you to the vibrant streets of Cape Town.
Italian Recipes
Discovering home made pasta has given me the energy to never turn back! The flavour, texture and just how easy it is to make home made pasta gives me no excuse not to make it fresh. Making pasta by hand is also great activity to do with kids.
Ravioli is a firm favourite in our family as you can fill these little pockets with whatever your heart desires. For this dish, we embraced meatless Monday and made them vegetarian!
After travelling to Florence I have dreams of the amazing florentine steak! Here are some of the secrets to cooking the perfect Bistecca alla Fiorentina, the renowned Florentine steak. Brace yourself for an explosion of flavour!
I recently made this pizza live on the Expresso Morning Show (‘you’re feel-good breakfast show’), which was a lot more difficult than cooking in the comfort of my home, let me tell you! Pizza is always a win though, and the smells that went through the tv studio was making everyone’s mouth water. Try out the recipe at home…
With spaghetti, we struggle to think outside of the box - but after trying this Squid Ink Spaghetti recipe you'll wonder why! Simple but delicious, you should really give it a try!
Ah, risotto – the creamy, comforting Italian dish that holds a special place in the hearts of food lovers worldwide. While its velvety texture and rich flavours make it a standout dish on restaurant menus, making risotto at yourself at home is not easy. Risotto demands patience and following a few steps religiously.
French Recipes
Many people are not confident cooking duck. If you don’t know how to prepare it properly, duck leg can be tough or even dry. But when cooked well, it is delicious.
I love the recipe as you get an amazing result without the feeling of excessive cooking times. It is a bit of a cheat confit in terms of time.
Asian Recipes
The most important thing about a yummy egg fried rice, is getting the sauce right. Once you’ve mastered that part of the recipe, you can play around with the ingredients to make different versions, adding vegetables like corn, carrots and peas, or meat (bacon is always a winner!).
Mexican Recipes
South African food culture includes many international influences. I love Mexican food, but also enjoy adding South African flavours to it. I cooked these bobotie-inspired quesadilla fold overs on the Expresso show using the Kiln pizza oven, and they turned out great! Try the recipe yourself and let me know what you think.
Sweet Recipes
We often take some time on the weekend to make a nice breakfast together with the kids. I’ve previously shared my fluffiest flapjacks recipe, but this is something totally different! By dipping apple slices in the batter, you can include some fruit in your child’s diet. You can opt to cut the apple slices thinner, or poach the apple beforehand if you want it to be soft. I cut thick slices and didn’t poach them as we like the crunchy texture of the apple inside the flapjacks, but this is up to you!
While it should be no surprise that I am the cook of the Roasted family, few of you will know that The Roasted Mom is the baker. She’s been making this traditional Dutch apple pie for me since we first got together fourteen years ago, and the Cape Town weather this week sure called for a slice of hot Dutch apple pie!
I first tried out this Berry Compote recipe when I had a Mother’s Day themed cook-with-me demo coming up, at Makerslanding by the V&A Waterfront. I wanted to add a slightly sour element to the dish, to prevent it from being too sweet as I was going to serve the flapjacks with my childhood favourite peanut brittle as well!
This Pear & Brie Cheese Pastry Square recipe is easy. delicious, crunchy! A crowd pleaser that can be put together in less than an hour.
For Olivia’s Fourth Birthday, we decided to make a chocolate cake. She wanted a Frozen-themed birthday party, but with some blue-tinted icing, and store-bought snowflake decoration that was easily done!
Make the crunciest Pecan Nut Brittle with this recipe. I first tried out this recipe when I had a Mother’s Day themed cook-with-me demo coming up and I wanted to add a nutty and crunchy element to the flapjack dish, to elevate it and take it to the next level. This peanut brittle was a hit!
Make the Fluffiest Flapjacks with Pecan Nut Brittle, a Berry Compote and Cinnamon Greek Yoghurt.
The secret to making the fluffiest flapjacks is in beating the egg whites into soft peaks before gently folding them into the rest of the mixture, being careful not to overmix.
Savoury Recipes
I love a good stir fry, as it’s a great way to add many different vegetables to your dish. For this recipe, I decided to try something I’d never done before and make an ‘upside down stir fry’. This basically means that you assemble your dish in reverse in a bowl, and then place a flat plate upside down on top before gently turning your dish the right way around. Find the recipe below and try make yours at home!
South Africans love a good Braai Broodjie. While South Africans love meat, this vegetarian alternative is a crowdpleaser. And if a braai is not a braai without meat, I challenge you to think differently: a braai is not a braai without a braai broodjie!
Many people are not confident cooking duck. If you don’t know how to prepare it properly, duck leg can be tough or even dry. But when cooked well, it is delicious.
I love the recipe as you get an amazing result without the feeling of excessive cooking times. It is a bit of a cheat confit in terms of time.
If you have followed me since I won MasterChef South Africa in 2022, you will know that I like to do things a little different. I love a Spanish paella, but what would it be to cook it South African style? I decided to cook one on a skottel braai, and it was delicious! Check the recipe below, and try it for yourself!
This Parmesan Mayonnaise Chicken recipe will become an instant favourite for both family dinners and gatherings with friends.
My second time on “Your Feel Good Morning Show" was a lot less nerve wracking than the first time I was a guest on the Expresso show. I knew what to expect this time. This is the recipe for the Parmesan chargrilled Corn on the Cob I made on the show.
Indulge in the rich flavors of Cape Malay cuisine with this easy but delicious Prawn Lentil Dahl recipe. Perfect for family dinners or special occasions, the recipe combines basic ingredients such as lentils, and traditional Cape Maly spices, with prawns, elevating it to impress your dinner party guests! This dish will tantalise your taste buds and transport you to the vibrant streets of Cape Town.
Conceptualised by MasterChef winner Shawn Godfrey, this Yellowfin Tuna Steaks recipe will impress your guests! Perfect for seafood lovers looking to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal at home.
This Tuna Steak recipe contain a fusion Asian-inspired ingredients and is accompanied by a tantalizing medley of wok cucumbers, curry tofu, crisp radish, and toasted almonds.
Breakfast Recipes
This super simple egg wrap recipe is made with chorizo, mushrooms, cheese and beetroot wraps in a muffin tray. After just a few minutes in the oven, you have an impressive-looking and delicious tasting healthy breakfast option that everyone in the family will love!
Make the Fluffiest Flapjacks with Pecan Nut Brittle, a Berry Compote and Cinnamon Greek Yoghurt.
The secret to making the fluffiest flapjacks is in beating the egg whites into soft peaks before gently folding them into the rest of the mixture, being careful not to overmix.
Side Dishes
With the onset of the rugby season you may be looking for some new snacks and braai sides. I created a few during the Rugby World Cup and will share them over the next few weeks. Starting off with this quick and easy pull bread recipe.
Generally asparagus are pan-fried with a little olive oil, and some salt and pepper. But if you’re wanting to serve up a more exciting asparagus side, look no further! This recipe includes some exotic ingredients which come together in a flavour combination that no one will be able to resist. Sometimes a side becomes more popular than the main meal, and this roasted asparagus dish has that potential!
I love cheese, and cheese is even better when it’s melted. This recipe is a delicious, but simple starter made with Goat’s Cheese camembert. It can be served as a starter or a snack, with some toasted ciabatta or crackers. Let everyone dip in and you will see, soon there will be nothing left!
Dinner Recipes
Many people are not confident cooking duck. If you don’t know how to prepare it properly, duck leg can be tough or even dry. But when cooked well, it is delicious.
I love the recipe as you get an amazing result without the feeling of excessive cooking times. It is a bit of a cheat confit in terms of time.
Lamb Lollipops are basically deboned lamb chops, rolled on a skewer. You can either buy them ready-made, or buy deboned lamb ribs and roll your own and push a skewer through.
If you have followed me since I won MasterChef South Africa in 2022, you will know that I like to do things a little different. I love a Spanish paella, but what would it be to cook it South African style? I decided to cook one on a skottel braai, and it was delicious! Check the recipe below, and try it for yourself!
I love a good gnocchi and the spinach adds some freshness, whilst the parma ham provides some much-needed salty crunchiness. All in all, with double cream and parmesan cheese, this dish is not just an easy one to make, but most importantly delicious to eat!
Lunch Recipes
I made this steak sandwich the other day and whilst easy to put together, the flavours are out of this world. Adding a mouth watering steak to a sandwich is always a good idea, but in this case I elevated it by using a T-Bone. The combination of Hellmann’s mayonnaise and French mustard is to die for and to use both pickled onions and ‘normal’ onions, your steak sandwich gets an extra punch! Adding some honey for sweetness and truffle oil to really impress your guests and you have a steak sandwich that’s come down straight from heaven. Try make it yourself and tell me if I’m wrong, but I’m definitely making this one again!
South Africans love a good Braai Broodjie. While South Africans love meat, this vegetarian alternative is a crowdpleaser. And if a braai is not a braai without meat, I challenge you to think differently: a braai is not a braai without a braai broodjie!
This braised beef short rib recipe is a quick and easy recipe, so perfect as a mid-week meal too! The house will be filled with a happy family when you prepare this dish!
A South African Inspired Paella
If you have followed me since I won MasterChef South Africa in 2022, you will know that I like to do things a little different. I love a Spanish paella, but what would it be to cook it South African style? I decided to cook one on a skottel braai, and it was delicious! Check the recipe below, and try it for yourself!
Cape Malay Prawn Lentil Dahl Recipe
Indulge in the rich flavors of Cape Malay cuisine with this easy but delicious Prawn Lentil Dahl recipe. Perfect for family dinners or special occasions, the recipe combines basic ingredients such as lentils, and traditional Cape Maly spices, with prawns, elevating it to impress your dinner party guests! This dish will tantalise your taste buds and transport you to the vibrant streets of Cape Town.
After Christmas there are often many leftovers. Why not make a Gammon Braai Broodjie with your leftover gammon on boxing day?