Different Uses For A Sliced Biltong Slab

Sliced or Slab?

Not quite as puzzling as “Which came first – the chicken or the vessel from which they hatch?”, this query is nevertheless worth pondering if you’re an aficionado of the world’s finest cured and air dried meat snack (and no, we’re not talking artificially flavored beef jerky drenched in brown sugar and condiments like Worcestershire sauce here, but prime cuts of beef inspired by South Africa). Nothing beats the convenience of pre-sliced biltong straight out of the bag, yet even convenience has to bow to the sheer versatility gained when wielding an entire biltong slab of bold, meaty goodness like some culinary caveman’s club set to knock your taste buds into orbit.

Additionally, most 100 gram servings contain nearly 60 grams of protein (and 94% of it’s digestible, meaning that your body will absorb virtually all of it). A zero sugar content seals the deal and makes biltong the champion’s choice for those on a Paleo diet.

The answer – sliced or slab – comes down to personal choice, really. Some folks like it sliced for ’em, others enjoy taking matters into their own hands and dictating the precise terms of their biltong’s texture and size to their own heart’s content. Whichever form of preserved meat you choose, it’s a win-win either way, as long as you get to grab hold of some dizzyingly delicious dried meats and giving your mouth the extravagance it deserves. If you’ve never tried it before, why not give one of MBT’s gluten free slabs a go? It might change the way you biltong forever and that, dear friends and neighbours, is something worth celebrating.

What makes the biltong slab so different?

Whoever coined the term ‘less is more’ obviously never encountered a thick, succulent and addictive slab of biltong before (in which case, more is definitely more)! You’ll simply feel it when you pick up a slab of billies in awe, gauging its weight and haft in one hand while readying a sharp knife in the other. There’s no getting around the fact that taste nirvana is but a fateful slice away. The possibilities and endless promise will call to you like a siren song; one that will only be silenced once you start wielding your discerning blade. Unlike the predictability that ready-bought slices provide, a solid slab of the good stuff will satisfy your biltong craving in a visceral hands-on way, from selecting robust chunks to unlocking the most delicate of gossamer shavings. Learn more about how to cut your beefy baby down to size – and always by slicing against the grain of the meat – in our companion blog “Biltong Slab – The Connoisseur’s Choice“.  

Biltong slab recipes

As anyone who’s taken a bite can testify, biltong (made by curing meat in vinegar and all-natural ingredients like coriander seed, black pepper and salt, then allowing a drying process to patiently bring out the full aromatic flavor) is a magical treat in and of itself. In sufficient amounts, it also serves as a deliciously satisfying standalone meal, yet it’s in its versatility that this majestic product truly shines. Specifically, biltong slabs offer you the benefit of choice when it comes to selecting the shape and size (from thick, coarse chunks to the most dainty slivers) of whatever beefy air-dried delight you wish to add to any meal. There’s a multitude of mouth-watering biltong inspired dishes out there (we’ve even got you covered with a variety of biltong recipes on this very site). To get your creative juices flowing and your imagination firing on all savory cylinders, here are a few further culinary ideas enticing enough to shake a biltong slab at…

Larger pieces or medium slivers of this celebrated delicacy can be diced into stews and added to home-baked muffins, not to mention finely shredded as irresistible cold cuts on top of sandwiches. Try substituting bacon for the exotic and adventurous taste of biltong to accompany baked potatoes, or do the same in quiche for a far richer and denser taste experience. Why not turn dieting into an easier, more palatable process by adding protein and iron-rich biltong shards to your next healthy salad, or create pizzas you won’t find at any local joint by slicing several pieces off your slab as an unforgettable substitute (or addition) to pepperoni, salami or Italian sausages?

It can also be used to embellish your next taco or to fortify the gooey goodnesss of your latest mac ’n’ cheese (’n’ biltong) casserole. Add a potent protein punch to your most recent bowl of soup and enjoy its warm comfort on a chilly winter’s night. It can also be used as a hero in risottos, adding oomph and a full-bodied wow factor that will make your Italian friends or relatives question the family recipe they’ve been using for decades. Exciting times lie ahead when you realize to what mind-blowing degree biltong can expand your gastronomic horizons forever.

Ready to take this endlessly versatile delicacy to new heights of flavor? Then upgrade your biltong from a simple snack to a key ingredient by taking your dishes on a scintillating savory safari. Carve a slice of your all-time favorite snack exactly as you wish to enjoy it and you’re bound to fall in love with biltong all over again. What are you waiting for, True Believer? Get your air-dried meat straight from the source and set your own tailor made course today.

Biltong appétit!