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Why Gas Makes Winter Cooking Feel Easier
There is something deeply comforting about winter cooking in a South African home. The windows mist slightly, the kettle works a little harder and somewhere on the stove, a pot begins to bubble. As the colder months approach, families start craving meals that are warm, filling, affordable and familiar. It is the season of slow-cooked suppers, one-pot dishes and food that brings everyone back to the kitchen.
This is where cooking with gas earns its place in the home. A visible flame gives you control from the start. You can turn the heat up quickly to brown meat, boil water or get a pot moving, then lower the flame immediately when the meal needs to simmer. That kind of control is one of the reasons professional kitchens value gas and it is just as useful for families cooking at home.
For SimsGas customers, a reliable gas cylinder is not only about convenience. It is about making everyday winter cooking feel more manageable. Whether you are preparing a quick weeknight meal, a hearty Sunday dish or a large pot that can stretch into tomorrow’s lunch, LPG gas gives you steady, responsive heat when you need it most.
Lamb Potjie: Slow-Cooked Comfort for Cold Days
Few meals feel as proudly South African as a lamb potjie.
Serves: 6 people
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 2½ to 3 hours
Total time: About 3 hours 20 minutes
Ingredients
1.5kg lamb pieces, preferably on the bone
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
4 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 cups butternut, cubed
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cups beef or lamb stock
1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon paprika
2 bay leaves
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 cup green beans or baby marrows, optional
Fresh parsley, for serving
Method
Heat the oil in a large potjie pot or heavy-based pot over medium gas heat. Add the lamb pieces and brown them on all sides. This helps build a rich, deep flavour for the dish.
Add the chopped onions and garlic, then cook until softened and fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste, herbs, coriander, paprika, salt and pepper.
Add the chopped tomatoes and stock, then stir gently. Cover the pot and allow the lamb to simmer over a low gas flame for about 1½ hours or until it starts becoming tender.
Layer the carrots, potatoes and butternut over the lamb. Do not stir too much, as potjie works best when the ingredients cook slowly in layers. Cover again and continue cooking for another 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Add the green beans or baby marrows during the last 20 minutes of cooking, if using. Check that the lamb is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
Serve warm with rice, samp, pap or fresh bread.
Gas Cooking Tip 🔥
Once the pot reaches a gentle simmer, turn the flame down and let the potjie cook slowly. A steady, controlled gas flame helps tenderise the lamb, develop flavour and prevent the dish from cooking too quickly.
Bobotie: A Warm Family Classic with Gentle Heat
Bobotie is another South African favourite that belongs beautifully in a winter kitchen.
Serves: 6 people
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Total time: About 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients
1kg minced beef
2 slices of white bread, crusts removed
1 cup milk
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons curry powder
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 apple, grated
3 eggs
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Cooking oil, for frying
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Place the bread in the milk and allow it to soak until soft. Squeeze out the excess milk, crumble the bread and set the remaining milk aside for the topping.
Heat a little oil in a large pan over medium gas heat. Add the onions and garlic, then sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until soft and fragrant.
Add the curry powder, turmeric and sugar. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring gently so the spices release their flavour without burning.
Add the minced beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Stir in the lemon juice, grated apple and crumbled bread. Season with salt and black pepper.
Transfer the mince mixture to a greased baking dish and spread it out evenly.
Beat the eggs with the remaining milk, then pour the mixture over the mince.
Bake for 45 minutes, or until the topping is set and golden.
Serve warm with rice, vegetables or a simple side salad.
Gas Cooking Tip 🔥
Use a medium flame for the onions, then lower the heat slightly when adding the spices. Gas makes it easy to adjust the flame quickly, helping the spices become fragrant without catching.
Creamy Samp and Beans: Filling, Affordable and Made for Simmering
Samp and beans is one of those dishes that speaks directly to South African comfort. It is hearty, familiar and deeply satisfying.
Serves: 6 people
Prep time: 15 minutes, plus overnight soaking
Cooking time: About 2 hours 30 minutes
Total time: About 2 hours 45 minutes, excluding soaking
Ingredients
2 cups samp
1 cup sugar beans
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 can coconut milk
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Fresh water, for soaking and cooking
Method
Place the samp and sugar beans in separate bowls. Cover with water and soak overnight, or for at least 8 hours.
Drain and rinse the samp and beans. Place them in a large pot, cover with fresh water and bring to the boil over gas heat.
Once boiling, reduce the flame and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the samp and beans are tender. Drain and set aside.
In a separate pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium gas heat. Add the onions and garlic, then sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until soft.
Stir in the curry powder and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant.
Add the cooked samp and beans to the pot and stir well.
Pour in the coconut milk and stir until creamy and well combined. Season with salt and black pepper.
Reduce the flame and simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Serve warm as a main meal or as a hearty side dish.
Gas Cooking Tip 🔥
Once the samp and beans reach boiling point, turn the flame down to a gentle simmer. This helps them cook evenly and soften properly while making better use of your gas.
Keep the Pot Simmering with SimsGas
Winter cooking is about more than recipes. It is about the feeling of coming home to something warm. It is the lamb potjie slowly softening on the stove, the bobotie browning in the oven, the samp and beans thickening in the pot and, on some evenings, even a sweet malva pudding waiting for dessert. These are the meals that make cold days feel easier.
Gas supports this kind of cooking because it gives households control, speed and steady heat. Used wisely, it can also support practical clean energy solutions for homes and small businesses that need reliable cooking energy. Simple habits such as using lids, matching pots to burners, keeping burners clean and lowering the flame once food is simmering can help your cylinder go further.
Few things are more frustrating than running out of gas halfway through a winter meal. Instead of waiting until you are urgently searching for gas refill near me open now, plan your refill early. With SimsGas, the promise is the same: easy to order gas and dependable support for homes and businesses that want to cook with confidence.
As winter approaches, SimsGas is here to help keep South African kitchens warm, practical and ready for the meals families love most.
Have questions? Need a service? Reach out any time.
📞 Johannesburg: 011 494 4232
📞 Durban: 031 902 6533
📧 Email: jhbsales@simsgas.co.za
SimsGas is an authorised @Oryx Energies South Africa distributor
Order your LPG Gas online: https://simsgas.co.za/shop/
Phone: 0861 746 7427
Email: jhbsales@simsgas.co.za
We will deliver to your home or business, so order today!
Johannesburg: 011 494 4232
Durban: 031 902 6533
Email: jhbsales@simsgas.co.za
https://simsgas.co.za/
Or fill in your gas supply query here:https://simsgas.co.za/contact-us/
SimsGas is an authorised @Oryx Energies South Africa distributor.
Disclaimer:
Author: Twaambo Chirwa
Resources:
https://simsgas.co.za/2025/02/26/10-tips-for-running-a-gas-powered-kitchen/
https://simsgas.co.za/2025/08/13/why-restaurants-cook-with-gas/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIcDt_jFjEQ&t=32
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1202841028721736
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDSs_ybwZM8
https://drizzleanddip.com/2023/10/30/classic-south-african-braaibroodjie-jaffles/