BY Motlatsi Kekana
Obakeng Mahlangu popularly known as Malumfoodie is a self-taught chef and lifestyle influencer who is passionate about cooking. From the carefully selected Ingredients to the artful presentation, each dish is a masterpiece that tantalizes the taste buds and satisfies the soul. He enjoys sharing simple and easy-to-follow recipes with his many social media followers, whom he considers to be part of his global family where he shares his culinary skills and knowledge. He is also known for his signature phrase, “Rura-Rura,” which means “Stir-Stir” in English.
His cooking skills came out of necessity. Following a six-year stinting Limpopo, where he was training as a an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, he returned home to Pretoria and lived alone and had to learn to make meals for himself.
When did you become a chef and what exactly do you do? Was this career something you always wanted to follow?
I discovered my passion for cooking unexpectedly. While growing up, I had to eat bland food at home and the food in the canteen where I worked was equally tasteless and uninviting. I was introduced to food magazines by the ladies in my life. These featured various delicious recipes and presentations were enticing. I saw a stark difference between the food I ate at home and what was possible with the right ingredients and techniques. Due to allergic reactions to maize spices, herbs were bought for cooking at home. I began experimenting with herbs and sauces and discovered that adding my favorite herbs like rosemary, black pepper, chilies, garlic granules, and coriander significantly improved the taste of the food. This helped me to get rid of the blandness and finally enjoy my food.
What is your favourite food to eat & how often do you eat it?
Pasta is my all-time favorite meal. It is simple, quick to make and can be prepared in a variety of ways from creamy to spicy and sometimes even a little tangy. No matter how you prepare it, pasta remains mouthwatering. It is also very versatile, as you can add chicken, meatballs, or veggies that blend in perfectly with the pasta. These are the top reasons why I cook it more than once a week.
How would you describe your overall cooking philosophy?
Food is an essential part of life. I believe that everyone deserves access to good food, and I strive to bring this vision to life. I am amazed and overwhelmed by the daily influx of new followers and their love for my cooking, as I showcase my culinary skills on social media.
Where can people sample your food?
I have a catering service that has grown organically since the establishment of the Malumfoodie brand in 2022. The business has mainly grown from my social media followers who follow my cooking guide and have a desire to taste the food that I make. I also provide cooking services for a variety of events such as weddings, private parties, corporate functions, and large outdoor/indoor events. With a proven track record in event cooking, the business has been sustained by four staff members who voluntarily deliver fantastic food and give the world a taste of the Rura-Rura magic.
RECIPE
Serves 6 people Takes 30 min to make
Ingredients
1 packet of linguine pasta sun-dried tomatoes (150gram)
1 cup of cherry tomatoes (halves) 3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup of olive oil
3 tablespoons of fresh basil
2 tablespoons of fresh thyme or dried thyme
1 and 1/2 cup of grated mozzarella cheese
500mil of fresh cream
1 packet of baby spinach (200 gram) Salt and pepper (pinch)
Pasta
Boil water with salt in a big pot and add your pasta. Cook for 10min
Drain the water and leave 1/2 cup of water aside.
Rinse pasta with cold water to avoid pasta from cooking further.
Sauce
In a pan add olive oil with garlic. Toast the garlic until fragrant.
Add sun-dried tomatoes with cherry tomatoes. Fry for 5min then add thyme
Add fresh cream and reduce the heat. Let it simmer for 2min then add fresh basil
After letting it simmer again for an extra min add spinach and let it cook for 5min then add pasta water followed by mozzarella. Rura- Rura (stir) till smooth then add salt and pepper (to your liking)
Immediately add pasta and switch off the stove and Rura-Rura (mix it well) and let it simmer on the off stove for amin.
