The only Sunday lunch that matters.

The taste of tradition.

Most of us grew up in super traditional families. Sundays were for early morning church, followed by grocery shopping and then a traditional Sunday lunch. In most homes that meant meat, rice and potatoes with two types of vegetable…not exactly exciting or inventive, but still a weekly feast we looked forward to.

Roll on 2024 and we are looking for a new take on the old tradition. We need something more. More vibrant, more…Mzansi.  Say hello to the TRULY South African tradition of the Seven Colour Sunday meal.

The whole idea of a “Seven Colour Sunday” is to celebrate traditional tastes of South Africa and share them with loved ones.

There is no set menu, and no one is REALLY counting the colours.

Basically, this kind of Sunday feast is about a fully loaded plate of family favourites.

1. First up, we have the meat. (Light Brown)

This can be whatever roast meat your family loves. For us its usually cuts of roasted chicken, but it can be a stew, a curry or even shisa nyama.

2. Next we have the starch. (White)

This needs to be white. So, rice, pap or mash is the obvious choices, but it can even be steamed Dombolo. Hey, for all we care you can do Couscous! As long as you know your family will love it.

3. Sauce it up (Rich Brown)

A creamy gravy is a must. Whether it’s a gravy powder mix, or a classic made from scratch pan-dripping gravy is up to you. Just make sure its rich and glossy, and there is enough to drench whatever starch you choose.

4. Green Veg (Green…obviously)

Traditionally, your green vegetables will be your savoury veg. Whether its creamed spinach, sweated Marog (green amaranth) with onions, “boere” beans with potato or even broccoli with cheese sauce, if its green, its good.

5. Sweet Veg (Orange or Yellow)

You can play around with orange sweet potato or glazed carrot, but the REAL seven colour sweet veg is soft, buttery pumpkin with more sugar than is good for you. We love a traditional Hubbard-pumpkin mash, carefully cooked until caramelized, but if you want to be healthy, roasted butternut with a sprinkle of cinnamon won’t put you to shame.

6. Beetroot or coleslaw (Pink or Purple)

This is where the colour matters. Pickled sweet beetroot, served cold, is an integral part of how your plate should look. If the beetroot vinegar seeps into your rice and stains your other food bright purple, even better. If beetroot isn’t your thing, a tangy red cabbage slaw will also do the trick.

7. Tomato salad/Curry pasta salad/potato salad (Red or any other colour)

For the final colour you can choose a favourite. I like a good old tomato salad. Thinly sliced ripe tomato, with slivers of white onion, seasoned with salt, sugar and white pepper. Its fresh and something about the taste and texture of tomato salad and Tastic rice puts us right back at our mom’s Sunday table. But don’t worry, any cold salad will do the trick. Mayo based classics like pasta- and potato salads, or even a crisp green or Greek salad…at this point, your plate is probably so full, you don’t need much else!

Cheat: A dash of cayenne pepper or paprika gives you red without the stress of a seventh dish.

Whatever you choose to dish up, remember the Homemakers golden rule:

You make the rules!

Cook what you love and feed your family their favourites. And if all else fails, remember that a bowl of ice cream with chocolate sauce and Astros can also have 7 colours…