This month, we teamed up with food creators to celebrate Africa Month. Herman Lensing was one of them, and he made a nostalgic Afrikaans classic with a twist. Using his grandmother’s techniques, he made melkkos and bougied it up with cinnamon-poached pears. Not only is melkkos an easier way to get that distinct milk tart flavour, but it’s also a dessert that’s acceptable to have for breakfast!

 

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Melkkos with cinnamon-poached pears recipe

9. Easy beef stew

It may still be autumn, but we’re already experiencing some cold days – we’re looking at you, multiple cold fronts in CT! So it makes perfect sense that some of you were making comforting stews. This beef stew by Khanya Mzongwana is, as the title suggests, easy to make. You can also adapt it to use your favourite protein. We’re sure you already have this bookmarked.

Easy beef stew recipe

ALSO READ: The top 10 recipes of April 2025

8. Beef-and-vegetable stir-fry

Deciding what to have for supper is always a chore. Clem Pedro made this decision easier with his supper club series, in which he cooked four meals from one grocery shop. This beef-and-vegetable stir-fry is the first of two supper club recipes on this list. It’s full of flavour, loaded with veggies and easily adaptable.

 

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Beef-and-vegetable stir-fry recipe

7. One-pot chicken and rice

One-pot recipes are always a firm favourite. We get it: a hearty meal with minimal washing up sounds like a dream. Clem’s one-pot chicken and rice hits all those notes, plus it’s easy on the pocket.

One-pot chicken and rice recipe

ALSO READ: The 10 most popular recipes in March

6. Ivor Jones’s mushroom lasagne

We bet that one of your favourite foods is something your mother or gran made. We love moms’ recipes so much, we asked top chefs to recreate their mom’s best dishes for Mother’s Day. Ivor Jones of Chefs Warehouse at Beau Chefs Warehouse made his mom’s mushroom lasagne, and you all loved it. We’re sure this recipe will become as special to your family as it is to Ivor’s.

 

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Ivor Jones’s mushroom lasagne recipe

5. Easy tuna pasta bake

Is there anything better than a baked, cheesy pasta on a chilly day? This is the second of Clem’s supper club recipes and it’s perfection. Clem ups the flavour by adding Woolworths’ sundried tomato stir-through pasta sauce to the cheese sauce and topping it with garlic breadcrumbs. If you’re short on time, you can use a ready-made white sauce instead of making your own from scratch.

Easy tuna pasta bake recipes

ALSO READ: Top 10 recipes you loved in February 2025

4. Individual malva puddings

A slight breeze is enough to make us want a warm pudding! As soon as the weather started turning, we shared our trusty warm pudding recipe collection. It comes as no surprise that malva pudding is your pud of choice! This recipe by Hannah Lewry is everything you want in a malva: luscious, sticky and syrupy sweet. Hannah makes them as individual servings, but you can create a bigger version if you prefer.

Individual malva pudding recipe

3. Oven-baked prawn-and-mushroom pasta

This pasta recipe by Phillippa Cheifitz works as either a splurge supper when you want to treat yourself, or as a special occasion meal. The prawns and pasta are made separately, so even if you choose to make just one element of this dish, it will still hit the spot.

Oven-baked prawn and mushroom pasta recipe

2. Chicken-and-paneer butter masala

Phillippa hit a home run with this recipe. It comes together in just 25 minutes, is made in one pan, and is delicious. It’s no wonder that of all the daily dinner recipes we share, this one made it to number two!

Chicken-and-paneer butter masala recipe

ALSO READ: Top 10 recipes you loved in January 2025

1. 3-ingredient lemon tarts

After a slew of public holidays at the end of April and the beginning of May, we needed a sweet treat to get through a full week of work! So we shared Abigail Donnelly’s 3-ingredient lemon tarts to make us (and you) feel better. It seems to have done the trick!

3-ingredient lemon tarts recipe

The post Top 10 recipes you loved in May 2025 appeared first on Woolworths TASTE.

You may have noticed that we’ve started posting wellness content on what we call “ Wellness Wednesday ⁠”. We’ve been sharing a range of articles to help you eat better, and what we’ve learnt so far is that protein, fibre and gut health are vital. Enter Bianca Strydom’s pickled bean salad! This recipe hits all those notes, plus it’s delish.

Pickled bean salad

Read our wellness content here.

9. Hot-smoked salmon pasta

Pasta will always hit the spot, but sometimes we want a pasta that’s a little fancier. And you agree. This recipe by Hannah Lewry is a riff on a classic Abigail Donnelly recipe. It features hot-smoked salmon flaked over a creamy pasta, complete with capers to cut through the richness of the sauce.

Hot-smoked salmon pasta recipe

8. Simple vegetable lasagne

Speaking of pasta, you can’t beat a classic. And that’s what this recipe is. We asked Khanya Mzongwana to create this recipe to fill a gap in our content, and it didn’t take long for you to flock to it. Clearly it was something we all needed! Khanya recommends serving it with a fresh salad and warm garlic bread, garnished with fried basil.

Simple vegetable lasagne recipe

LOVE PASTA? Check out our pasta recipe guide here. 

7. Ginger-beer chicken tray bake

“Tray bake” is a magical phrase that makes TASTE readers click. It implies maximum flavour with minimum effort, and that’s exactly what this recipe by Khanya Mzongwana delivers. You need just 5 minutes of prep time, then your oven does all the hard work.

Ginger-beer chicken tray bake recipes

6. Kerrievis (pickled fish)

Do we only eat pickled fish at Easter? We’re not sure, but we do know that readers flock to our pickled fish recipes at this time of year. This is one of three on this list! This recipe is an extract from Michael Olivier’s book Friends. Food. Flavour. Great South African Recipes. The recipe has been on the site since 2022, but this is the first time it’s featured on a top 10 list.

Kerrievis (pickled fish) recipe

ALSO READ: The 10 most popular recipes in March

5. Pickled fish mom’s way

Khanya Mzongwana’s family pickled fish recipe is the second on the list. By Khanya’s own admission, this is not the most traditional recipe but it is a tried-and-trusted family favourite. And we’ve learnt that family recipes automatically get your stamp of approval, especially when it’s a mom’s recipe! Which reminds us, Mother’s Day is around the corner, so start planning now.

Pickled Fish mom’s way recipe

4. Classic Cremora tart

Give us a classic South African dessert any day! Whether it’s nostalgia, budget or just pure deliciousness, this recipe shot its way through most of the Easter-themed recipes we posted in April to make it onto this list.

Classic Cremora tart recipe

3. Giant éclair

The one Easter dessert that beat the classic Cremora tart is Abigail’s giant éclair. And we totally get it. Born out of a curiosity about combining a chocolate éclair and a custard slice, this mash-up feels extra special. Abi created it for her Easter menu in the Long Weekend issue of TASTE, and we were so impressed by it, we had to make a video. Clearly you were impressed, too.

 

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Giant éclair recipe

2. Jamaican-style oxtail stew 

April saw some really chilly days, and that gave us an excuse to post some comfort food. Oxtail is always a winner when it’s cold. This version by Khanya has a Caribbean twist with butter beans and Scotch bonnet chillies – that spice will get you feeling nice and toasty.

Jamaican-style oxtail stew recipe

1. Home-made Cape Malay-style pickled fish

It’s the third and final pickled fish recipe on the list, and we’re not surprised that this is the top one. Every Easter, without fail, the TASTE community flocks to this recipe. This is the fifth year in a row that this recipe has made it to number one, and that’s without any push on our side. People just know that this recipe will serve them well at this time of year. Let’s see if it will be number one next year!

Homemade Cape Malay-style pickled fish

The post The top 10 recipes of April 2025 appeared first on Woolworths TASTE.

The judging process took a more comprehensive and transparent approach. A panel of eight anonymous, independent judges visited each shortlisted restaurant multiple times – during both peak and off-peak periods – to ensure a fair and all-encompassing assessment. The whole process took 8 months. The criteria covered every aspect of the dining experience, from food quality and technique to service, ambience and value. The judges rated the restaurants and awarded the stars based on their final score.

Restaurants that scored between 70 and 79 for one star. Restaurants that scored between 80 and 89 got two stars. The coveted 3-star rating is reserved for restaurants scoring over 90 out of 100. There were also special awards given, including restaurant of the year.

Here’s a list of all the 2025 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards winners:

One Star

 

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• Belly of the Beast (City Bowl, Cape Town)
• Cavalli Restaurant (Somerset West)
• Chefs Warehouse at Maison (Franschhoek)
• Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic (Hout Bay, Cape Town)
• Creation Wines Tasting Room (Hemel-en-Aarde Valley)
• Culinary Table (Lanseria)
• Eike (Stellenbosch)
• Ëlgr (City Bowl, Cape Town)
• Farro (Botrivier)
• Galjoen (City Bowl, Cape Town)
• Hōseki (Stellenbosch)
• Kapokbos (Bonnievale)
• Le coin Français (Franschhoek)
• Les Créatifs Restaurant (Bryanston, Johannesburg)
• Marble Restaurant Johannesburg (Rosebank, Johannesburg)
• Meraki by Charlie Lakin (Hillcrest, eThekwini)
• Nevermind (Cape St Francis)
• Orangerie at Le Lude (Franschhoek)
• Post & Pepper (Stellenbosch)
• Restaurant Klein JAN (Tswalu)
• Reverie Social Table (Observatory, Cape Town)
• Rykaart’s Restaurant at Longridge Wine Estate (Stellenbosch)
• Scape at Vrymansfontein (Paarl)
• Spek & Bone (Stellenbosch)
• Table Seven (Salt River, Cape Town)
• The Chefs’ Table (Umhlanga, eThekwini)
• The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse (City Bowl, Cape Town)
• The Table at De Meye (Stellenbosch)
• The Test Kitchen Fledgelings (Woodstock, Cape Town)
• Upper Union (City Bowl, Cape Town)
• Vuur Goose Island (Stellenbosch)
• Zioux (Sandton, Johannesburg)

Two Stars

 

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• Beyond (Constantia, Cape Town)
• Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia (Constantia, Cape Town)
• CHORUS (Somerset West)
• Clara’s Barn (Stellenbosch)
• Epice (Franschhoek)
• FABER at Avondale (Paarl)
• Fermier (Pretoria)
• Foxcroft (Constantia, Cape Town)
• MERTIA (Stellenbosch)
• Ouzeri (City Bowl, Cape Town)
• Protégé (Franschhoek)
• Rust en Vrede (Stellenbosch)
• Salon (Woodstock, Cape Town)
• The Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira (Stellenbosch)
• The Pot Luck Club Cape Town (Woodstock, Cape Town)
• The Waterside Restaurant (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)
• Wolfgat (Paternoster)

Three Stars

 

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• Dusk (Stellenbosch)
• FYN (City Bowl, Cape Town)
• La Colombe (Constantia, Cape Town)
• La Petite Colombe (Franschhoek)
• Pier (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)
• Salsify at the Roundhouse (Camps Bay, Cape Town)
• The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate (Pinetown, eThekwini)

Special awards: Excellence beyond the plate

 

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• Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant of the Year: Salsify at the Roundhouse in Camps Bay
  
• Eat Out Woolworths Financial Services Chef of the Year: Johannes Richter of The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate in Pinetown
• Eat Out Woolworths Green Star Award: The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate in Pinetown
• Eat Out Rising Star: Nathan Clarke, executive chef at The Test Kitchen Fledgelings in Woodstock
• Eat Out Woolworths Wine Service Award: Michelle Erasmus (La Colombe)
• Eat Out Woolworths Trailblazer Award: Bertus Basson (Eike, Spek & Bone, CHORUS, Clara’s Barn)
• Eat Out Woolworths Financial Services Service Excellence Award: MERTIA
• Eat Out House of Suntory Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award: Franck Dangereux (chef-owner of The Foodbarn Café & Tapas and founder of La Colombe)
• Eat Out VISI Style Award: COY
• Eat Out Lexus Best Destination Restaurant: Kapokbos (Bonnievale)
• Eat Out Yoco Best New Restaurant: Cyra
• Eat Out Callebaut Dessert Award: Epice
• Eat Out Patrón Mixology Award: La Petite Colombe
• Eat Out S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna Chefs’ Chef: Ivor Jones

To read more about the 2025 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards, head to eatout.co.za.

The post All the winners at the 2025 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards appeared first on Woolworths TASTE.

Easy, cheesy and all done in one tray? No wonder Hannah Lewry’s cheesy tomato chicken bake made this list. It’s the perfect example of midweek comfort food, plus you won’t have a stack of dishes to wash afterwards. Winning all around!

Cheesy tomato chicken bake recipe

9. Chicken-and-bulgur wheat Greek salad

Everyone’s favourite private chef, Megan Kate Swan, shared her recipe for your new favourite chicken salad! This chicken-and-bulgur wheat Greek salad is packed with flavour and ideal for meal prep. According to Megan, it can be stored for two days in the fridge, and you should keep the dressing and pine nuts separate before serving. Not a meal prep person? It’s also a great salad for a braai or a cool dinner.

 

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Chicken-and-bulgur wheat Greek salad recipe

ALSO READ: Top 10 recipes you loved in February 2025

8. Air-fryer chicken with roasted tomato sauce

The “winner winner, chicken dinner” train continues, this time with Saadiyah Hendricks’ chicken with roasted tomato sauce – all made in an air-fryer. Saadiyah shared this as an Iftar recipe during Ramadan and paired it with roasted vegetables, but you can serve it with whatever you like.

Air-fryer chicken with roasted tomato sauce recipe

7. Peri-peri oven-roasted seafood skillet

This recipe by Hannah Lewry is the cover star of our long weekends special edition of TASTE. We posted it to celebrate the special edition in the last week of March, and you flocked to it! Perhaps it’s the excitement of seeing a printed magazine again. It could be, because it’s an ideal special occasions recipe (Eid, birthdays, Easter – it works for everything!). Whatever the reason, we can’t wait to see your re-creations!

Peri-peri oven-roasted seafood skillet recipe

ALSO READ: Make long weekends better with this special issue of TASTE

6. Lamb chops with rosemary and lemon

There’s something special about a good lamb chop. And this recipe by Phillippa Cheifitz certainly got your stamp of approval. Whether you’re looking for a quick but satisfying meal, something good to eat when it’s too hot, or simply want to treat yourself, this recipe is a good one to have on hand.

Lamb chops with rosemary and lemon

5. Double beef burger with smoked Cheddar and sriracha mayo

Abigail Donnelly’s burger recipe being in the top 10 was not on our bingo card. We did not post this recently, nor did it feature in our weekly newsletter this month. But after some investigating, we saw that it featured in a Woolworths newsletter that went out just before the long weekend! It was shared for burger Friday and we agree that it’s an excellent burger for a Friday – or any day of the week!

Double beef burger with smoked Cheddar and sriracha mayo recipe 

ALSO READ: Sign up for the TASTE weekly newsletter and WIN!

4. Chicken Caesar chopped sandwich

While a good chicken mayo will always have a special place in our hearts, we reckon this chicken sando by Abigail Donnelly may be the best. It takes all the best bits of a Caesar salad and combines them with the trendy chopped sandwich. The result? An epic chicken sandwich you’ll be making on repeat. The best part? The bread acts as the crouton!

 

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Chicken Caesar chopped sandwich recipe 

3. Boerewors lasagne

This recipe by Khanya Mzongwana had the TASTE community divided. Some people loved the local twist and ease, while others were adamant that you shouldn’t mess with the classics. Whichever side you fell on, you can’t deny that the fascination around the recipe drove you to view it.

Boerewors lasagne recipe

2. Roast sirloin with potato bake

Clearly, many of you are into good Sunday lunches! This recipe by Hannah Lewry shakes up the Sunday roast with a Mediterranean sirloin roast paired with sour cream potato bake. You roast the sirloin on top of the potato bake so it can absorb all that good flavour. And to round it off, Hannah includes a celery-and-citrus salsa to balance the meal beautifully.

Roast sirloin with potato bake recipe

1. Easy drop doughnuts

Iftar is not complete without sweet treats, and these easy doughnuts by Zaynab Paruk are ideal. They’re ready in just 20 minutes and you can customise the toppings however you like. Sweet treats are always popular on our site. We get it. Just looking at the recipe can spark joy, so making them must be even better!

 

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Easy drop doughnuts recipe

The post The 10 most popular recipes in March appeared first on Woolworths TASTE.