As long as there have been sporting events, food has been just as important to the game-day experience, whether you’re at the stadium or at home watching from the comfort of your couch. Many of the biggest TV-watching events of the year are sports-related, and it’s not a true game day without some snacks to enjoy, whether you’re flying solo or hosting friends. Even people who aren’t necessarily into sports can be known to show up to watch parties just to get their hands on game-day treats.
Of course, there are the traditional game-day classics like wings, chips and dip, and mac and cheese, just to name a few. But why not add biltong to the mix? Biltong can be a unique addition to your Big Game spread, bringing a savory punch of flavor and a satisfying texture to your favorite snacks. It might even make your dishes the talk of the evening, especially if the game ends up being a bit of a blowout.
This week, we’re sharing a few biltong-themed dish ideas to bring to your next watch party for some of the biggest sporting events in the world.
The Super Bowl
You were probably expecting this one, weren’t you? The Super Bowl remains one of the world’s most-watched events, with an average of 120 million people tuning in to the NFL’s championship game each year. It has also become one of the biggest “food days” of the year, almost rivaling holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving. For some people, the snacks matter even more than the Big Game itself.
For your next Super Bowl feast, try a biltong dip or spread. It's versatile enough to serve with your favorite chips, or as an addition to a charcuterie board to spread onto toasted sourdough.
For your Biltong Dip/Spread, you’ll need:
- 1 Cup Cream Cheese
- 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
- 1/2 Cup Cut Biltong
- 1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
This recipe is very simple! Your only direction is to mix the ingredients together thoroughly in a bowl. For best mixing results, be sure the cream cheese is softened before being added to the bowl. Chill in refrigerator before serving.
For additional flavoring, you can also add Bacon Bits for an added meaty flavor or chopped red onion for an added crunch!
The Rugby World Cup
Rugby remains one of the most popular sports in South Africa, and the South African national team continues to be a major force in tournaments across Africa and around the world. Although the next Rugby World Cup won’t be held until 2027, you can get a head start on planning your watch party, whether it’s for a day of group play or the championship final.
Biltong pizza is a great way to celebrate. A globally loved dish, pizza gives you plenty of options for crust styles, sauces, and toppings so you can even make a few different pies to keep things interesting throughout the tournament.
For a basic medium sized Biltong Pizza, you’ll need:
- Pizza Dough of your choosing (Store Bought or Homemade, whatever you wish!)
- Tomato Sauce
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Sliced Biltong
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Spread your Tomato Sauce around the pizza dough, keeping the crusts clear. Top with your Mozzarella Cheese, followed your sliced Biltong. How much cheese and Biltong you place on the pizza is up to your taste!
Place Pizza in oven for about 15 minutes, or until mozzarella is fully melted and crust is golden brown. Remove from Oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Then, enjoy!
That is the simplest form of a Biltong pizza, but as we mentioned, there’s lots of flavor combinations that can bring the most of your Biltong topping! Feel free to experiment with additional toppings and sauces!
Playoff Basketball
While it may not be on the same popularity level as soccer or rugby, basketball still holds a special place in South African culture, especially as the sport has continued to grow internationally. Whether you’re watching the NBA Playoffs or college basketball’s March Madness, there’s nothing quite like enjoying the intensity of a close game with friends.
If you do decide to host a watch party during the NBA Playoffs or March Madness, how about serving a big plate of biltong nachos? Nachos are a staple at basketball arenas, and they’re a perfect snack for those wild dunks and clutch three-point shots.
For Biltong Nachos, you’ll need:
- 16 Ounces of Tortilla Chips
- 1 Pound of Biltong
- 4 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees Spread all 16 ounces of your Tortilla Chips on a baking sheet. (For best results, Baking Sheet should be 13x18 inches.) Spread your 4 cups of Cheddar Cheese over your chips.
If you wish to cook the biltong into the melted cheese, start with 2 cups of cheddar cheese over the chips, then place in your Biltong, followed by spreading the additional 2 cups over the biltong.
Cook in your oven for 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted. Then enjoy!
Add additional toppings as you desire! These could include, diced green onions, sliced red onions, Guacamole, Sour Cream, or Salsa, but feel free to get creative!
Of course, these are just a few ideas for sports and dishes that can liven up your next watch party. You can share the joy of biltong while watching baseball, soccer, the Olympics, hockey, or even during a movie night or TV season-finale watch-along. No matter what you're doing, there's something special about sharing great food with great friends.