#Do you know what prego sauce is?

The first time we went together to South Africa we did something different: we stayed at a friend’s house instead of a hotel/hostel. We were so well received by our Indians friends. We talked, exchanged experiences, compared Portugal, Angola & South Africa. We had a really nice time. We ate way too much, I think we were almost rude… but the food was so good, too good to say no 🙂

Next day we had a Kruger National Park Safari booked and our friend Fazila made us a little lunch (Thanks Fazila. Thank you Auntie) I noticed some Lays Chips with prego sauce…

And the conversation went :

Jorge: what is prego sauce?

Everyone: … !?!?

Jorge: These chips are “Prego Sauce” flavored…?

Everyone: … ?!?! what?

Finally, Fazila says something like: it’s the Portuguese dish/flavor prego…

Claudia looked at me as confused as I was… and went also… “prego sauce?” and thinking the same as I, prego doesn’t have any special sauce, neither is any kind of specialty…

Well, the chips are nice, a bit too spicy for my taste, but had good, strong flavor… just don’t seem Portuguese or taste like a Portuguese prego at all… I’m Portuguese I should know.

In Portugal prego is a flanked beef grilled or fried in butter, usually served in “Paposeco” bread. The meat is usually seasoned with bay leaves, salt, garlic and a bit of pepper but is prepared without any kind of sauce.

The thing is, apparently there is a South African sauce based on a Portuguese “prego sauce”, but prego sauce doesn’t really exist. There are pregos in Portugal, but they don’t have a sauce. And most surely don’t taste like the South African sauce… It’s funny how time and distance change things, how something supposedly typical from one place becomes nothing like the original. Not worse, neither better just transformed.

Lays were pretty good though 🙂

So, what do you guys think? Any South Africans or Portuguese have a follow-up on this?

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