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| {{short description|South African dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with curry}} | | {{short description|A South African fast food dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry}} |
| {{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
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| {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
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| {{About|a dish in [[South African cuisine]]|the film|Bunny Chow (film)}}
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| {{Infobox prepared food
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| | name = Bunny chow
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| | image = Quarter Mutton Bunny Chow.jpg
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| | image_size = 250px
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| | caption = A "quarter [[mutton]]" bunny with topping
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| | country = [[South Africa]]
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| | region = [[Durban]]
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| | creator = [[South African Indians]]
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| | course = [[Lunch]], [[dinner]], [[snack]]
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| | type = [[Curry]], [[sandwich]], [[bread bowl]]
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| | served = Hot
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| | main_ingredient = Bread, curry
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| | variations =
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| | calories =
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| | other =
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| '''Bunny chow''', often referred to simply as a '''bunny''',<ref name="fadBunny">{{cite web |url=http://www.fad.co.za/Resources/bunny.htm |title=More on the Bunny Chow |website=Facts About Durban (South Africa) |author=Jackson, Allan |date=2003 |access-date=22 August 2011}}</ref> is a [[South African cuisine|South African]] [[fast food]] dish consisting of a [[bread bowl|hollowed-out loaf]] of [[white bread]] filled with [[curry]]. It originated among [[Indian South African]]s of [[Durban]].<ref name=FromCurries>{{cite book |title=From Curries to Kebabs: Recipes from the Indian Spice Trail |page=184 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yAgfQ6uxhRgC&pg=184 |author=Jaffrey, Madhur |date=2003 |isbn=9780609607046 |access-date=28 September 2015}}</ref> Throughout various South African communities one can find different versions of the bunny chow, which uses only a quarter loaf of bread and depending on which part of the country you are in, is sometimes called a ''scambane,'' ''kota'' ("quarter") or Shibobo; it is a name that it shares with [[Spatlo|sphatlho]], a South African dish that evolved from the bunny chow.<ref name="KraigPh.D.2013">{{cite book |author1=Kraig, Bruce |author2=Taylor Sen, Colleen |title=Street Food Around the World: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture | | '''Bunny chow''', often referred to simply as a '''bunny''', is a popular South African fast food dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry. This dish is particularly associated with the city of [[Durban]], which has a large [[Indian South African]] community. Bunny chow is a staple of South African cuisine and is enjoyed by people of all backgrounds. |
| |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9XCjAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA306 |date=9 September 2013 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-955-4 |pages=306–307}}</ref>
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| ==History== | | ==History== |
| The Bunny chow was created in a city called Durban, South Africa. It is home to a large community of people of [[Indian South Africans|Indian]] origin. The precise origins of the food are disputed, although its creation has been dated to the 1940s.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Platt|first=Josephine|title=The Mystery of Durban’s Signature Dish Bunny Chow|url=https://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/a-brief-history-of-the-bunny-chow/|access-date=2021-06-20|website=Culture Trip}}</ref> It was also sold in [[Gwelo, Rhodesia]] (now [[Zimbabwe]]) during [[World War II]] and is still sold in the nearby town of [[Kadoma, Zimbabwe|Kadoma]], formerly known as Gatooma. | | The origins of bunny chow are somewhat unclear, but it is widely believed to have been created in the 1940s in Durban. The dish was likely invented by Indian laborers who needed a convenient way to transport their meals to work. The hollowed-out bread served as a portable container for the curry, making it easy to carry and eat without utensils. The name "bunny chow" is thought to derive from the term "bania," referring to an Indian caste of merchants, combined with "chow," meaning food. |
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| Stories of the origin of bunny chow date as far back as the migrant Indian workers' arrival in South Africa. One account suggests that said Indian laborer's who came to work the [[sugar cane]] plantations of [[KwaZulu-Natal]] (Port Natal) required a way of carrying their lunches to the field; a hollowed-out loaf of bread was a convenient way to transport their vegetarian curries.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/0/25745902 |title=What is bunny chow? |website=BBC Food |date=20 January 2014 |author=Warwicker, Michelle |access-date=28 September 2015 |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619012632/http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/0/25745902 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Meat-based fillings came later. The use of a loaf of white bread can also be ascribed to the lack of the traditional [[roti]] bread as well as its weak structure; thus the cheap loaf, widely available at local stores, would be an optimal substitute vessel for the curry.
| | ==Preparation== |
| | Bunny chow is traditionally made using a quarter or half loaf of white bread, although whole loaves can also be used for larger servings. The bread is hollowed out to create a cavity, which is then filled with a spicy curry. The curry can be made with a variety of ingredients, including [[chicken]], [[lamb]], [[beef]], or [[vegetables]], and is typically seasoned with a blend of [[spices]] such as [[cumin]], [[coriander]], [[turmeric]], and [[chili]]. |
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| ==Etymology==
| | The dish is often served with the removed bread "lid" on the side, which can be used to scoop up the curry. Bunny chow is usually eaten with the hands, making it a casual and communal dining experience. |
| [[File:Bunny Chow quarter loaves for filling.jpg|thumb|left|140px|A table of hollowed "quarter loaves" to be filled for bunny chow.]]
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| One story claims that a South African restaurant run by [[Bania (caste)|Bania]]s (an [[Indian subcontinent|Indian]] [[caste]]) first created the dish at a restaurant-café, called Kapitan's, on the corner of Victoria and Albert streets in Durban.<ref name="Hajratwala2009"/> Another tale opines that the origin of this handheld dish was due to Indian [[golf caddies]] not being allowed to publicly carry sharp cutlery like knives during apartheid.<ref name="KraigPh.D.2013"/> "{{wikteng|chow|Chow}}" in [[South African English]] is simply [[slang]] for "food" as well as the verb "to eat".
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| The traditional Indian meal was roti and beans, but the roti tended to fall apart as a take-away item. To solve this, they{{who|date=November 2018}} hollowed the centre portion of a loaf of white bread and filled it with curry, then capped the filling with the portion that was carved out.<ref name=QuarterBunny>{{cite web |url=http://quarterbunny.co.za/index.php/legends/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113053605/http://quarterbunny.co.za/index.php/legends/ |archive-date=13 January 2013 |title=Legends |website=Quarterbunny |access-date=28 September 2015}}</ref> The vegetarian version of the meal is sometimes known as a ''"beans bunny"''.<ref name="Hajratwala2009"/> An alternate, albeit unlikely etymology is derived from a [[mondegreen]] of ''"bun"'' and ''"[[Achaar (pickle)|achar]]"'' (Indian pickles), though the latter are not usually included in the dish (unless as an [[accoutrement]]).<ref name="Hajratwala2009">{{cite book |author=Hajratwala, Minal |title=Leaving India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CWJBiay5oSQC&pg=PT70 |year=2009 |publisher=Westland |isbn=978-93-80032-90-0 |pages=70–71 |access-date=28 September 2015}}</ref>
| | ==Variations== |
| | While the traditional bunny chow is filled with curry, there are many variations of the dish that reflect the diverse culinary influences in South Africa. Some popular variations include: |
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| ==Cuisine==
| | * '''Vegetarian bunny chow''': Made with a variety of vegetables such as [[potatoes]], [[peas]], and [[carrots]], often in a spicy tomato-based sauce. |
| [[File:Bunnychow.jpg|thumb|Quarter mutton bunny chow in Durban, South Africa]]
| | * '''Chicken bunny chow''': Featuring tender pieces of chicken cooked in a rich curry sauce. |
| Bunny chows are popular amongst Indians and other ethnic groups in the Durban area. Bunny chows are commonly filled with curries made using traditional recipes from Durban: [[mutton]] or [[Lamb and mutton|lamb curry]], chicken curry, [[Cow's trotters|trotters]] & beans curry and [[bean]]s curry. Other varieties found across the country using less traditional Durban-Indian food include chips with curry gravy, fried sausage, cheese, eggs and [[polony]]. These are all popular fillings; the original bunny chow was vegetarian. Bunny chows are often served with a side portion of salad containing grated carrot, [[chile pepper|chilli]] and onion [[salad]]. Commonly known as [[sambal]]s, this includes chopped tomatoes, onions, and green chilies served with white vinegar. Other sides include Indian pickles, such as mango pickle, lime or lemon pickle, vegetable pickles and other seasonal varieties which are pickled. A key desirable characteristic of a bunny chow is seen when gravy from the curry fillings soaks into the walls of the bread. Sharing a single bunny chow is not uncommon.
| | * '''Lamb bunny chow''': Made with succulent lamb pieces, offering a hearty and flavorful option. |
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| Bunny chows come in quarter, half and full loaves. When ordering a bunny chow in Durban, the local slang dictates that you need only ask for a "quarter mutton" (or flavour and size of your choice); colloquially, people would say, "Can I have a quarter mutton bunny?" Bunny chows are mainly eaten using the fingers; it is unusual to see locals use utensils when eating this dish. | | ==Cultural Significance== |
| | Bunny chow is more than just a meal; it is a cultural icon in South Africa. It represents the fusion of Indian and South African culinary traditions and is a symbol of the country's multicultural heritage. The dish is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds and is a common sight at street food markets, festivals, and family gatherings. |
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| Bunny chows were historically packaged in the previous day's newspaper. This is no longer common, and takeaway bunnies are more typically sold in "bunny boxes" which retain heat and prevent leaks from the curry.
| | ==Related pages== |
| | * [[Durban]] |
| | * [[Indian South African]] |
| | * [[South African cuisine]] |
| | * [[Curry]] |
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| Bunny chows are available in many small takeaways and Indian restaurants throughout South Africa. The price ranges from {{ZAR|15|USD=yes}} for a quarter beans bunny or [[dhal]], to {{ZAR|50|link=no|USD=yes}} for a quarter mutton bunny, and generally one can multiply the price of a quarter by between 3 and 4 to attain the price of a full bunny.
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| Each year, the "Bunny Chow Barometer" is held in September on the south bank of the [[Umgeni River]], just above Blue Lagoon (a popular Sunday picnic spot for Durban Indians), attracting numerous entrants from across the Durban Metro region to compete for the title of top bunny maker.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iol.co.za/thepost/coca-cola-bunny-chow-barometer-competition-14-years-running-16794534|title=Coca Cola Bunny Chow Barometer Competition 14 years running |website= IOL |author=Lutchman, Chanelle |date=29 August 2018 |access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref>
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| ==See also==
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| {{Portal|South Africa|Food}}
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| * {{annotated link|Bunny Chow (film)|''Bunny Chow''}}, a comedy film
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| * {{annotated link|Gatsby (sandwich)}} – a South African sandwich
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| * {{annotated link|List of African dishes}}
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| * {{annotated link|South African cuisine}}
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| * {{annotated link|Curry bread}}, found in Japanese cuisine
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| * [https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Braai&redirect=no Braai]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| {{South African cuisine}}
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| {{Street food}}
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| [[Category:Bread dishes]]
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| [[Category:Curry dishes]]
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| [[Category:South African cuisine]] | | [[Category:South African cuisine]] |
| [[Category:Street food]] | | [[Category:Street food]] |
| {{dictionary-stub1}}
| | [[Category:Indian cuisine]] |
A South African fast food dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry
Bunny chow, often referred to simply as a bunny, is a popular South African fast food dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry. This dish is particularly associated with the city of Durban, which has a large Indian South African community. Bunny chow is a staple of South African cuisine and is enjoyed by people of all backgrounds.
History
The origins of bunny chow are somewhat unclear, but it is widely believed to have been created in the 1940s in Durban. The dish was likely invented by Indian laborers who needed a convenient way to transport their meals to work. The hollowed-out bread served as a portable container for the curry, making it easy to carry and eat without utensils. The name "bunny chow" is thought to derive from the term "bania," referring to an Indian caste of merchants, combined with "chow," meaning food.
Preparation
Bunny chow is traditionally made using a quarter or half loaf of white bread, although whole loaves can also be used for larger servings. The bread is hollowed out to create a cavity, which is then filled with a spicy curry. The curry can be made with a variety of ingredients, including chicken, lamb, beef, or vegetables, and is typically seasoned with a blend of spices such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chili.
The dish is often served with the removed bread "lid" on the side, which can be used to scoop up the curry. Bunny chow is usually eaten with the hands, making it a casual and communal dining experience.
Variations
While the traditional bunny chow is filled with curry, there are many variations of the dish that reflect the diverse culinary influences in South Africa. Some popular variations include:
- Vegetarian bunny chow: Made with a variety of vegetables such as potatoes, peas, and carrots, often in a spicy tomato-based sauce.
- Chicken bunny chow: Featuring tender pieces of chicken cooked in a rich curry sauce.
- Lamb bunny chow: Made with succulent lamb pieces, offering a hearty and flavorful option.
Cultural Significance
Bunny chow is more than just a meal; it is a cultural icon in South Africa. It represents the fusion of Indian and South African culinary traditions and is a symbol of the country's multicultural heritage. The dish is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds and is a common sight at street food markets, festivals, and family gatherings.
Related pages
