Welcome to my kitchen — a place for curiosity, creativity, and good, honest food.

A few years ago, I never imagined I’d become so fascinated by cooking. What began as a way to support my keto lifestyle soon grew into a genuine love of food, learning, and the quiet satisfaction of making things from scratch.

I’m not a trained chef, and I don’t pretend to be. I’m simply a curious home cook who enjoys discovering new techniques, experimenting with unfamiliar ingredients, and refining recipes until they’re worth sharing. Every recipe on Hanlie Cooks is one I’ve cooked, refined, and genuinely enjoyed.

One of the greatest pleasures of this journey has been exploring flavours from around the world. My recipes are inspired by the talented chefs, home cooks, and food writers who generously share their knowledge, but they are never intended to be authentic recreations. I cook with the ingredients available to me in South Africa, within my budget, and in a way that suits my keto lifestyle. They’re simply my own interpretations from a curious home kitchen.

Here you’ll find recipes that celebrate whole, homemade food—from comforting classics to globally inspired dishes—all made with the belief that good food should be approachable, satisfying, and full of flavour. Whether you’re following a ketogenic lifestyle or simply enjoy cooking from scratch, I hope you’ll find something here to inspire your next meal.

If you’re curious about how this unexpected journey began, or the food philosophy behind Hanlie Cooks, I’d love to tell you more on the Aboutpage.