TikTokJoin Zaynab Paruk on a delicious journey through baking and cooking, where every recipe is a celebration of culture, community, and the rich flavors of Ramadan!
With baking as a central part of your content, which traditional South African or Islamic sweets hold the most significance for you during times of celebration, and could you share a bit about their cultural importance?
I love most South African desserts, but one of my most popular videos is for Koeksisters. I haven't met anyone who doesn’t enjoy these pillowy, syrup-soaked donuts covered in coconut. They're perfect when served hot and fresh with a cup of strong, boiled tea. Another favorite, especially for a summer day, is Milk Tart. It’s an easy recipe, and its flavors have inspired many other creations, from cakes to cupcakes. I once made a Milk Tart cake with a thick layer of custard and a dusting of cinnamon. I love taking a traditional recipe and using it to inspire something new.
Heritage Month celebrates the unique traditions of different communities in South Africa. How do you use food to connect with both your South African and Muslim heritage on TikTok?
My heritage plays a huge role in my everyday meals, especially when celebrating any occasion with family and friends. We are of Indian descent, but we’re also inspired by Arab flavors from the Middle East. During Ramadan, for instance, there’s a significant influence of Arab dishes and spices that find their way into many of my recipes. TikTok is such an incredible platform because it makes different cultures and cuisines accessible to everyone around the world. It’s easy to learn traditional recipes from creators everywhere, and that global connection is truly special.
South African cuisine is a beautiful blend of many cultures. Have you found that baking, as a tradition, connects these different heritages? Can you share an example where you’ve blended multiple influences in a single recipe?
Baking and cooking do connect different heritages across South Africa. We have such a vibrant and diverse community, and everyone loves sharing their traditional methods when it comes to food. Take a simple chicken curry, for example—it can be made in so many ways depending on whether it’s from the Indian community in Durban or the Cape Malay community in Cape Town. Every culture has its unique spices and techniques. I often get messages from my community when I use a method they aren’t familiar with, and they’ll tell me, "That’s not how my mum does it!" It’s always a fun conversation.
In a multicultural country like South Africa, food often brings people together. What dish do you think has the power to unite diverse communities during Heritage Month?
There’s nothing quite like a hot, spicy biryani to bring people together! It’s a dish that my family loves to enjoy during celebrations, and I think it’s a meal that resonates with all South Africans. Biryani is a hearty dish that’s perfect for sharing with loved ones, no matter where you come from.
How does your community react when they see traditional dishes they grew up with featured on your page? Have you noticed people reconnecting with their roots through your content?
My South African community always gets excited when I post local dishes. Some of my most popular videos have featured milk tart, koeksisters, Bombay Crush, Hungarian tart, bunny chow, and faluda. The faluda video was particularly interesting because different communities referred to faluda as completely different things. For us, it's a rose-flavored custard, but others described it more like a milkshake! That’s the beauty and fun of TikTok—realizing that something you’ve grown up with can be so different from someone else, and yet we all share a love for these foods.
