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It’s National Braai/BBQ Day – here’s the braai recipe roundup!

by Jeanne Horak on September 24, 2010 13 Comments in Braai the Beloved Country, Roundup

Braai the Beloved Country logo © J Horak-Druiff 2012

The French have their onion soup. The Americans have their apple pie. The Germans have their Bratwurst and Sauerkraut. What do we South African have? Well, to my mind nothing defines us (in a culinary sense, anyway!) better than a braai. As a South African abroad, there are few things that make me homesick as fast as the smell of woodsmoke. One whiff while walking home from the train station is all it takes and suddenly you are transported back to another time and place – maybe a seaside holiday, maybe a student jol, maybe a 21st birthday party. One way or another, the smell of a braai fire is one of the ties that really binds South Africans together.  So much so that Heritage Day, our public holiday that falls on the 24th of September, has been declared National Braai Day and is celebrated by South Africans everywhere – even by our national treasure Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu!

Let me start by explaining that South Africans do not barbecue or barbie or have a cookout – we BRAAI. It’s a whole different ballgame and one of the reasons why, for me, South Africa rocks. The South African braai goes way beyond linguistics or a simple cooking method – it has been elevated to the status of a social and cultural institution.  Formerly the preserve of white and mainly Afrikaner South Africans, the braai today crosses all cultural and socio-economic barriers and is universally loved – and given the South African climate, it is an activity that we indulge in all year round, with gusto.

Even today, there are still braai puritans who insist that to be a “proper” braai, the meat has to be cooked on an open wood fire (doringhout or rooikrans will do nicely). The making of this fire is usually a skill passed down from father to son – how to pile the wood, where to put the newspaper or kindling and of course, how to tell when the fire is ready for cooking, which usually involves counting how long you can leave your hand above the coals before yanking it away in pain. And woe betide anyone who casts aspersions on a man’s ability to make a good braai fire – this is tantamount to questioning his manhood… The fire is traditionally started hours before any cooking is due to be done, using about 10 times more wood than is, strictly speaking, necessary. This is the “kuiervuur” which is built purely as a backdrop against which the braaiers can stand and chat about rugby (or braaing techniques!) until the requisite amount of Castle Lager has been consumed.

These braai puritans also have fixed ideas on the type of structure to be used for a braai and will pooh-pooh the idea of Weber charcoal grills or fancy grills as “for sissies”. The Real Braaier has been known to make a fire in an old wheelbarrow or in an old washing machine drum – the drum’s little holes provide the correct degree of protection and ventilation, apparently.  And the golden rule of the traditional braai is this: while the women may congregate in the kitchen and make side dishes and conversation, it is the men who prepare the meat and do the braaing. They huddle around the fire comparing braai tongs (really!), marinades and braai technique, and all shake their heads sadly when someone deviates from the braai norm by, say, putting their meat on the fire too early/late/at the wrong angle. Mmm… the mingled smell of smoke and testosterone.

At the risk of offending everyone, I just have to say a few words about nationality and braaing ability.  Here in London, when we are invited to a barbecue (i.e not an exclusively South African gathering), it is almost always the South African men that gravitate towards the fire and end up doing all the cooking of meat, while the Aussies and Kiwis make lots of suggestions from the sidelines (but don’t actually DO anything) and the Brits nervously clutch their mobile phones, wondering whether the smoke levels warrant a call to the fire brigade. But to be fair, the Brits don’t really stand a chance in the barbecue/braai stakes – summer only lasts about a week, so there is hardly any time to practise and get really good. Poor lambs.

As for what goes on the braai, when I was growing up, it was confined to lamb or pork chops, boerewors (a South African coriander-spiced sausage) and steak.  Fish was permissable in Cape Town (more or less) and chicken was seen as the vegetearian option.  Luckily, we have moved on and today pretty much anything goes, from meat to fish to chicken and even the occasional vegetable.  A couple of weeks ago I asked you to send me your favourite braai recipes for the Braai, the Beloved Country event (for those of you who didn’t know, it’s a play on the title of the famous South African author Alan Paton’ book Cry, the Beloved Country). So let’s see just what people are putting on (or around) the braai these days.

First out of the gate was my friend Val of More Than Burnt Toast in Canada.  She decided to go for the often-neglected niche market:  vegetarian braai dishes.  She comes up with a mouth-watering dish of bell peppers on the grill filled with pesto and cheese.  Inspired!

MoreThanBurntToast

Up next was the lovely Lady Raven from Add to Taste in Cape Town.  Inspired by the sight of my sosaties, she came up with two delicious kebabs:  Moroccan sausage & lamb skewers; and cheese & vegetable skewers.  The cheese & veg skewers in particular would come in very handy for vegetarian guests (who are usually the poor relation at South African braais!).

LadyRavenCollage

Ally of Simply Delicious (my fellow-finalist in the South African Blog Awards 2010 – congrats, girl!) eally got into the spirit of things and decided to tackle an entire week of braai recipes!  Here, she gives us the low-down on how to marinade, starting with a whopping five delicious marinades for chicken and then wowing us with her sticky pork rib and her lemon & rosemary lamb chop marinades.

SimplyDelishPorkRibs

All the way from Australia, my friend Barbara of Winos and Foodies also fired up the grill to join in the fun.  Now usually I’d pooh-pooh the idea of hamburgers on the grill… but when you see these gourmet burgers that her son whips up, you will change your mind as fast as I did 😉  Delicious.

Winosandfoodies

Back in South Africa again the talented Marisa of The Creative Pot uses heritage day as a springboard to ponder her own family heritage.  One thing is for sure – good taste must run in her family because the coconut and coriander grilled chicken that she dreams up is good enough to become a family heirloom recipe!

Thecreativepot

Staying in South Africa, we hear from Claudine & Mr B (Claudine assures me it was a joint effort) of Purple Lips & Perfect Smiles.  Boerewors is a delicious coriander-spiced sausage that is made in long coils and usually served with pap (literally porridge, but made of maize meal and actually a swhole lot more like polenta) and tomato & onion stew.  Claudine gives a new twist to an old classic and serves the combination up as canapé-sized boerewors & pap bites.  I love it!

 

PurpleLipsPerfectSmiles

The “definitely beyond the call of duty” must go to Sally of My Custard Pie – who also gave us the only sweet contribution to this event.  Sally lives in UAE and wanted to take part so badly in this event that she fired up the barbecue… in 40C heat!!  I’m impressed. The fruits of her labours were some delicious honeyed fruit brochettes with rosewater cream.  I think we’re all in agreement that her suffering was worth it in the end 😉

MyCustardpie

And back to South Africa again where my dear friend Nina of My Easy Cooking has also been cooking up a storm for Braai Day.  As she correctly points out, there are always loads of meat recipes for a braai, so she decides instead to wow us with a side dish.  Her perfect pasta salad wth mushroom pesto looks like the ideal cool, chewy accompaniment to hot, crispy lamb chops. Hungry now…!

Mushroom Pasta Salad0004

Of course, no event around here would be complete without the participation of my beloved sister-from-another-mother Meeta of What’s for Lunch Honey?  She shares with us the almost mythical status of sausages in her current home of Germany, where every market tempts you with the smell of the local sausages sizzling on the grill.  Having had a bratwurst fresh off the grill when I visited Dresden with her in the summer, I can see the attraction!

WhatsForLunchHoney

**STOP PRESS**

Back in South Africa, Tara of C’est la Vie submitted two recipes well within the deadline… but to the wrong e-mail address!  They have now finally reached me and a good thing it is too as they are delicious!  First up are her peanut butter, mushroom and bacon snack bites (not pictured).  I order you to suspend your disbelief till you’ve tried these delicious little  bites of sinfulness! She also contributed a fabulous kudu neck potjiekos and an easy guide to potjiekos in general  – make sure not to miss it!

C'estlaVie1

As for me, I kicked the event off with a reprise of my old friend Cecil’s curried lamb and apricot sosaties.  Every year he brings them to our annunal summer braai; every year there is not a single leftover.  Say no more.

SosatiesTitle

And if those don’t rock your world, try my…

Whole leg of lamb on the braai

WeberLambTitle

Or my sticky BBQ chicken sundowners

Chicken sundowners

Or my bacon-wrapped venison loin on the braai

VenisonLoin

Or my spectacular roast butternut squash stuffed with spinach and feta

Butternut

Don’t know about you… but I’m hungry now!  Thanks ever so much to all those who took part in this event, and as for you, my dear readers – what are you still doing here?  Go and fire up the braai!

HAPPY HERITAGE DAY, EVERYONE!

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  1. barbara says

    September 24, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    Fabulous round up Jeanne. My husband has no idea how to bbq. Both my sons bbq well, so I have no idea where they learnt it from.

    Reply
  2. nina says

    September 24, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    So glad I was part of this feast!! Thx for hosting!!!

    Reply
  3. bellini valli says

    September 24, 2010 at 11:48 pm

    All of these dishes sound incredible and if only it could be that we could all sit down together….perhaps in your backyard for a traditional braii.

    Reply
  4. Sommer @ A Spicy Perspective says

    September 25, 2010 at 2:20 am

    Wow–it all looks so good! As for your dish, you just can’t beat meat on a stick!

    Reply
  5. Jane-Anne Hobbs says

    September 25, 2010 at 2:49 am

    This is such a wonderful, inspired post, Jeanne. Loved the intro details (never heard the word ‘kuiervuur’ before) and all the recipes are gorgeous. X

    Reply
  6. Sally - My Custard Pie says

    September 25, 2010 at 6:03 am

    Such an exuberant and inspiring round up. Really glad I was part of it and can’t wait for the weather to cool down a bit so I can try out some of these fabulous recipes.

    Reply
  7. Jamie says

    September 25, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    Fantastic! I had the enormous pleasure of enjoying a braai at Cooksister HQ and the food was fabulous! I wanted to participate but don’t have even a blacony much less a grill and my one attempt at oven bbq was dismal. Well, I’ll have to enjoy this vicariously through this amazing, mouthwatering round up and dream of my next one in London.

    Reply
  8. Meeta says

    September 25, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    Like Jamie above me I had the honor to be a part of a spectacular braai at Jeanne’s. I was simply blown away by the flavors and the dishes! This roundup is blowing me away too – incredible variety of interesting dishes and I need to visit them all to check them out more closely. Jeanne – when you invite us to party with you you know I am right there with you babe – bratwurst et al!

    Reply
  9. Faith Kramer says

    September 26, 2010 at 7:16 pm

    Wow. What a great round up. I look forward to trying some of these recipes at my next California bbq!

    Reply
  10. Marisa says

    September 27, 2010 at 7:40 am

    First chance that I get at the computer – was away all weekend. Great roundup Jeanne, am especially impressed by the non-South African entries!

    Reply
  11. Hila says

    September 27, 2010 at 9:42 am

    was great to be a part of it all. Let me know if you want me to send you some braai cheese :p

    Reply
  12. Tara says

    September 29, 2010 at 7:53 am

    Thank you for the STOP PRESS! 🙂 Can I point out a small typo? Bacon; not ‘back’ 😉 But I’m sure people can work it out!

    Reply
  13. Kit says

    October 21, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    Great round-up Jeanne. I’m now kicking myself for being so slack in my blogging at the moment – I would have loved to join in this event.
    We finally got round to making our first ever potjie on Braai Day, having used your instructions on seasoning and preparing the pot, and it was pretty good. Now my husband has got the taste for it we’re going to be potjie-ing all summer, I think! Kids not so keen, but tough!

    Reply
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🏙 No cash payments are accepted, so make sure you have a card to pay for souvenirs and refreshments.

🏙 Make sure you visit the restrooms while you are there - it's the best view from a loo you have ever experienced!
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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

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Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
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This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.