Dad’s signature recipes: 6 of our all-time favourites

We're breaking down the misconception that only moms are good cooks. Our TASTE team has tons of food memories involving their dads' best cooking. This Father's Day, we're looking beyond the biltong and steak – the TASTE team shares their favourite dishes and recipes that have been passed down to them by their dads.

1. Brawn with caraway seed vetkoek

If you're unfamiliar with brawn, it's an appetiser that's similar to a terrine. It's made with more affordable cuts such as trotters and pigs' heads. If you want to bust out the best recipes to spoil your dad this Father's Day, this will make the perfect starter. You can cut corners and serve it with store-bought crackers, but Khanya's caraway seed vetkoek makes the dish even more special.

"I learned a lot of the fancy food things I know from my late dad, and when my mom told me about his fantastic brawn recipe, I knew I had to recreate it in his honour. The natural gelatine found in pork trotters sets the brawn perfectly and the shredded pork shank adds meatiness. The best way mom and I eat brawn is by melting a sliver of it onto a hot vetkoek with nothing else."
– Khanya Mzongwana, deputy food editor

Get the recipe for brawn with caraway seed vetkoek here.

2. Split pea soup

In light of sharing more than just "manly" steaks for Father's Day, why not be inspired by the weather? Make a hearty, warming soup. While this recipe uses humble ingredients, it's still a labour of love that dad will definitely appreciate.

"This bowl of comfort is my dad’s handiwork. He was a huge Ina Paarman fan. When things were good, we would pick a recipe from one of her cookbooks. When things were rough, we would make this. It became one of the recipes I requested most often."
– Khanya Mzongwana, deputy food editor

Get the recipe for split pea soup here.

3. Epic roast tomato tart

It's clear that contributing food editor Hannah's love for food stems from her dad. This tomato tart features in many of her fondest childhood memories. It's a delicious and easy way to use up a bag of tomatoes that doesn't require too much technique or exotic flavours that may be hard to replicate.

"When I was growing up, my parents owned a coffee shop in Plett called Lavender and Limes, where my dad’s roast tomato tart was always the first thing to sell out. For the first time ever, I persuaded him to part with the recipe, so I hope you enjoy it!" – Hannah Lewry, contributing food editor

Get the recipe for epic roast tomato tart here.

4. Chops chutney

It's a huge honour to be trusted with dad's secret recipe. TASTE's online editor has made it a mission to learn all her dad's culinary secrets. It's a way for her to learn more about her heritage and bond with him. Every week for a year they experimented with tomato chutney and discovered how versatile it can be. There were some hits and misses, but overall it was the start of Annzra’s love affair with cooking.

"Sure, a braaied chop is good, but have you ever had them in a spicy tomato chutney? My father has made many chutney recipes over the years, but this chops chutney is the ultimate. It works for brunch or dinner and is best enjoyed with fresh white bread." – Annzra Denita Naidoo, TASTE online editor

ALSO READ: How making tomato chutney for a year taught me to cook

Get the recipe for chops chutney here. 

5. Crayfish curry

For some, Father's Day may be a sombre day. For freelance photographer Sadiqah, cooking her father's favourite meal is a way her family chooses to honour his memory.

"My father passed away suddenly ten years ago, during Ramadan,” Sadiqah says. “It was very sad, but, in a way, it was also the best way to go, as it’s the most spiritual month. He passed away while he was praying. And the last meal he had eaten was crayfish curry. His favourite.” – Sadiqah Assur-Ismail, freelance photographer

Get the recipe for crayfish curry here. 

6. Wholewheat chocolate chip cookies

Don't forget something sweet! Desserts don't have to be complicated. Make a big batch of these cookies to gift dad – he can treat himself to these chewy and chocolatey cookies throughout the week.

"My husband, the Salad Dodger, will swear blind that he doesn’t have a sweet tooth, before finishing three helpings of malva pudding and a bar of fruit & nut. He loves biscuits that are a bit soft and chewy in the middle – so 'cookies' in the American sense, but we’re calling them dad biscuits anyway." – Kate Wilson, editor-in-chief

Get the recipe for wholewheat chocolate chip cookies here.