International Mandela Day is just around the corner, meaning we will be celebrating something... and where there are celebrations there is food.If you were Madiba, what do you think you would be having for dinner tonight? And where on earth could you find those awesome recipes!!! Starting today we will be sharing 4 of his favourite recipes on our #TastyTuesday feature. All thanks to his own personal chef Ms Xoliswa Ndoyiya.

Ms Xoliswa cooked for Madiba for more than 20 years and according to her, these were some of his favourite recipes! She even documented the odd request for some custard or ice cream (which only came after he turned 80 years). Xoliswa shared today's recipe on Times Live (Dec 9, 2013) - You can find this and more in Ndoyiya and Anna Trapido’s recipe book “Ukutya Kwasekhaya" – Tastes from Nelson Mandela’s Kitchen” (Real African Publishers) available on Amazon, Google Books and Takealot.

• Samp and Beans
• Oxtail
• Sweet Chicken Soup
• Dumplings

No 1: Umnqgusho (Samp and beans)

This dish pairs samp with beans to make a filling and nutritious side dish. Umngqusho tastes delicious with any slow cooked stew. Beans offer several nutrients such as zinc, iron, magnesium and fibre.

INGREDIENTS

• 500g samp (crushed maize), well rinsed
• 800g dried sugar beans, well rinsed
• 2 beef stock cubes, salt and white pepper for taste
• 45ml (3 tablespoons) butter or amafutha enkuku (chicken fat)

DIRECTIONS

• Place the samp and beans in a pot, cover with water and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and cook until soft, for at least two hours.
• Do not stir or it will become excessively starchy, but keep checking to see that the mixture is not sticking to the bottom of the pot and add water if necessary.
• After about an hour, add the stock cubes.
• When the mixture is well cooked and soft , strain off the remaining water.
• Season and stir in the butter. Serve with boiled meat such as umleqwa (free-range chicken).

Source/Credit: "Ukutya kwasekhaya" - Tastes from Nelson Mandela's Kitchen | Recipes by Xoliswa Ndoyiya