10. Mevrou

During Eid al-Adha in 2025, we teamed up with Cape Malay cook Fayruza Abrahams to share recipes marking the occasion. Deeply rooted in Cape Malay heritage, these dishes sparked nostalgia, debate and fascination, especially among those encountering these foods for the first time. Of all the recipes in the series, this one received the most attention, inspiring many readers to give this comforting, flavourful weeknight meal a try.

 

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Mevrou recipe 

9. Caramelised onion, blue cheese and hot honey Neapolitan-style pizza

If you're planning to make pizza from scratch, it helps to learn from a pro. We invited Jason Lilley, owner of Jason Bakery in Cape Town, into the TASTE kitchen to show us how it's done. Starting with a sourdough pizza base recipe, he then demonstrated how to make it Neapolitan-style, and shared some standout toppings. Whether you made the pizza dough from scratch or just took inspo from Jason's toppings, this recipe inspired many pizza nights in your homes. (Another of Jason's pizzas also made this list. Scroll down to see where it landed.)

 

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Caramelised onion, blue cheese and hot honey Neapolitan-style pizza recipe 

8. Sufganiyot

Comedian Tracy Klass shared her family's Hanukkah recipes with us, including these traditional sufganiyot (deep-fried, jelly-filled doughnuts). Although this recipe was published at the end of the year (Hanukkah was celebrated from 14–22 December 2025), it still drew huge interest, earning it a place on our top 10 list. And we get it – who doesn't love a doughnut? Even better, it offers insight into a delicious food tradition. (Keep an eye out for another Hanukkah recipe on this list.)

 

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Sufganiyot recipe

7. Mac-and-cheese cups

In January 2025, chef and food stylist Masego Mbonyana shared this lunchbox-friendly treat that's ideal for the little ones. It's quick to make, uses pantry staples, and is far more exciting than a standard sandwich. Plus, you can customise it to suit your preferences and prep it ahead to make busy days easier. It's the perfect recipe to rediscover as you gear up for the return to routine and school.

 

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Mac-and-cheese cups recipe 

6. Braai Mexican corn (esquites)

One thing we've noticed about the TASTE audience is that you love recipes for braai sides rather than braai meat. It makes sense. We're South Africans, and we all have our braai meat preferences and skills locked down. But we can always play and experiment with sides. Enter Mpho Nkomo, the owner of Something Smoked Roadhouse BBQ in Soweto. His esquites recipe features smoky, charred corn kernels tossed in a creamy, zesty dressing with a chilli kick – and it's clearly a hit.

 

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Braai Mexican corn (esquites) recipe

5. Carbonara Roman-style pizza

Jason's second pizza on the list uses the same sourdough pizza dough recipe, adapting it into a Roman-style version. We're not entirely sure why it was even more popular than the Neapolitan-style pizza, but we have a couple of theories. Firstly, this style of pizza might seem less intimidating to make at home. Secondly, you were intrigued by how Jason transformed a popular pasta into a pizza topping. Whatever your reason, we're glad you checked it out.

Carbonara Roman-style pizza recipe 

4. Aimee’s rugelach

Tracy's second Hanukkah recipe is by her daughter, Aimee. We know the TASTE community loves a family recipe, but even we were surprised that this one ranked so highly, despite only being posted in the second week of December. This is the first time we featured a rugelach recipe on the site, and it's clearly something you've been waiting for.

 

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Aimee’s rugelach recipe

3. Smoked mackerel poke bowl

Wholesome, quick, easy and visually pleasing – this recipe by private chef Megan Kate Swan hits all the right notes. She shared it in January 2025, and it's a perfect simple summer meal that delivers big flavour with little effort. Plus, it's budget-friendly – always a win at the start of the year.

 

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Smoked mackerel poke bowl recipe 

2. Frikkadels with roast red pepper sauce

Clem Pedro knocked it out of the park with another simple, budget-friendly recipe. He used iconic frikkadels to make your life easier, adding them to a roast pepper sauce for which your air-fryer and blender do all the heavy lifting. To add a fancy twist, Clem tops the dish with feta snow (simply frozen feta grated on top). Serve it on your favourite carb – mash, pasta or crispy bread.

 

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Frikkadels with roast red pepper sauce recipe 

1. Beesting cake

No matter the time of year or your mood, a sweet treat has the power to make everything better. This one shared by food content creator Zaynab Paruk is filled with nostalgia. Originally from Germany, the recipe received Zaynab's own spin, and the results were spectacular. And you clearly agree. With so many visits in 2025, it became most the popular TASTE recipe of the year.

 

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Beesting cake recipe