Cooking in the potjie

[treesmith]

This evening I’m cooking chili in the potjie (POY-key). African-style pot. The legs are a bit long, so a friend hooked me up with some steel pipe cutoffs to use for a coal bed. Works like a charm. Build a big fire in the fire pit, then shovel coals as needed to cook.

 

[Burnham]

Looks to be somewhat like a Dutch oven.

 

[treesmith]

Somewhat, I suppose. It has three legs like a Dutch oven, but they’re way too long for cooking like a Dutch oven, and the lid isn’t flanged for coals. I just happened to find one at a yard sale and grabbed it. Later I bought one a size smaller. They’re great since I got the rings to heap coals up beneath them. I like them for soup/stew/chili, while I like Dutchbivens better for things that need some top heat.

 

[treesmith]

View attachment IMG_3236.mov
View attachment IMG_3236.mov

 

[flushcut]

Somewhat, I suppose. It has three legs like a Dutch oven, but they’re way too long for cooking like a Dutch oven, and the lid isn’t flanged for coals. I just happened to find one at a yard sale and grabbed it. Later I bought one a size smaller. They’re great since I got the rings to heap coals up beneath them. I like them for soup/stew/chili, while I like Dutchbivens better for things that need some top heat.

View attachment 146911

I think the Congo Oven (potjie) lol is more for cooking over flame instead of coals. I could be wrong. But I do luv me sum Dutch oven cooking. Soups and stews I prefer using a tripod over a fire, roasts and pies it’s coals all the way, 2/3rds timing for the win.

 

[treesmith]

I think the Congo Oven (potjie) lol is more for cooking over flame instead of coals. I could be wrong. But I do luv me sum Dutch oven cooking. Soups and stews I prefer using a tripod over a fire, roasts and pies it’s coals all the way, 2/3rds timing for the win.

I have no doubt that you’re right about open flame cooking, but with the rings, it is so much simpler to regulate and maintain temps with coals.