Durban beef curry has a reputation for fieriness that has made it famous around the world. But, as this slow-cooked authentic recipe proves, it's not entirely about the hot spices and hearty beef that makes this curry a thing of beauty. A plethora of vegetables, herbs and spices are what come together to make it memorable, not to mention its unique history.

A chicken, butterbean and cauliflower curry comes from oThongathi, a place north of Durban up the coast best known for sugar cane. It's typical of the delicious, mild curries you can find in roadside places all along the coastal highway. It's sweet 'n sour qualities reflect the bounty of South African produce.

chicken peri peri curry from Mozambique, a tasty example of the historic fusion between Portuguese cooking and Indian Diasporan cuisine

This (near) zero-fat prawn and mango curry is surprisingly simple. Another winner based on South African Indian Diasporan cooking