biltong

South Africa · Sub-Saharan Africa

Short description: Biltong is cured dried meat, often sliced into chewy strips and eaten as a snack.
Ingredients: Beef or game meat cured with vinegar, coriander seed, salt, black pepper, brown sugar, and sometimes chili, then dried.
Cultural note: It is associated with butcher shops, road trips, and sports watching, where texture and seasoning are the point.
Common misconception: It is not simply jerky; vinegar curing, coriander, and thicker cuts give it a distinct texture and flavor.

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