Food24
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Easter Recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Kitchen design and appliances
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win
No Result
View All Result
Food24
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Easter Recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Kitchen design and appliances
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win
No Result
View All Result
Food24
No Result
View All Result

Brush up your braai skills

YOU
Food24 by Food24
September 21, 2017
in Food News
0
Brush up your braai skills
0
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

You know braai day is in full swing when delicious braai aromas waft through your neighbourhood.

With clear skies and warm weather, many people are getting braai fires going and inviting friends and family to join in this quintessentially South African pastime.

But when you’re the one with the braai tongs in your hand, how confident do you really feel? Make a few ill-advised decisions and it could all go horribly wrong.

Your brother-in-law asked for his steak to be medium rare, but when he cuts into it he’s disappointed to discover there isn’t a hint of pink inside. Or the coals were too hot and you’ve burnt the outside of the chicken pieces while the inside is still raw.

If you want to be a braai master, you have to practise, says Jean Nel, a braai coach and author of Braai the Beloved Country.

“The more you braai the better understanding you’ll have of fire. Just be organised.  Have the braai ready, the fire perfect and the tongs and other equipment nearby.”  Follow these expert tips and you’ll be braaiing like a seasoned pro.

These tips will help you become a braai expert:  

LAMB CHOPS

If you want to prevent  flare-ups, trim the fat off  chops, braai coach Jean Nel advises.

“Medium high heat works perfectly with lamb chops. Sear the chops then turn them   once or twice. Lamb should still be medium   once you take it off the braai.”

Banters (and even those not on the high-fat, low-carb diet) may be hesitant to trim the fat. YOU food editor Carmen Niehaus suggests threading three lamb chops on a kebab skewer and placing them fat side down on the grill. Cook until they’re nice and crispy, remove, and then braai each chop individually until cooked.

SAUSAGE

Don’t even think of par cooking sausage before the braai, Jean says. There’s no need for this.

“It’s simple. Start to braai the sausages on the cooler part of the fire to allow the inside to cook fully,” he explains. “Then use braai tongs to move them to the hotter side of the fire. This gives the finishing touch.”

STEAK

People are picky about steak. Some retreat at the sight of pink juice flowing out of a rare   steak, while others are turned off completely by anything above medium rare.

Cooking times depend on the size of your steak but here’s a rough  guide.

Rare: five to six minutes

Medium rare: seven to eight minutes

Medium: eight to 10 minutes

Medium well: 10 to 11 minutes

Well done: “Wouldn’t recommend it for steak,” Carmen says.

Make sure your coals are very hot.

“Never put steak on a cool fire,” Jean says. “Leave it at room temperature for at least an hour before the braai. Salt early and often as this adds flavour and keeps the steak juicy. Sear the steak on hot coals then moves it to the cooler side.”

Carmen prefers thick steaks, at least 3 cm. And chef and Ultimate Braai Master Judge Bertus Basson points out that fillet have the least flavour. “Try rump or sirloin,” he suggests.

CHICKEN

At a braai chicken often takes a backseat to traditional favourites  such as lamb chops and sausage, but if chicken is done right, your guests will happily give red  meat a miss.

“Chicken breast off the bone is perfect for quick medium-to-high-heat braaiing,” Jean says. Just make sure all the pieces are about the same size.

“Wings are for low-maintenance  braaiing.  Braai over low to medium high  heat.”

Breasts with skin and bone  work best in a kettle braai. “A simple dry rub is amazing with this,” he adds. 

 Chicken has a neutral flavour, making  it perfect for marinades, Carmen says.

“If you marinate chicken, dry it off with   paper towels before cooking, otherwise the marinade may burn.” Brush the chicken with the marinade five minutes before it’s done, Jean says.

“Chicken is the best meat choice for kebabs. It won’t be tough and goes well with anything  else you skewer on the kebab.”

RIBS

“Meaty ribs are from the belly of a pig,” Jean says. “It’s a heavier meat cut than for instance baby back ribs.

Preheat the oven to 180 °C, marinate the ribs with a rub or marinade, foil them and put them in the oven for up to two hours. Then grill them on the hot coals for 10 to 15 minutes.”

Put lamb ribs in a folding grid and put   it on the side of the fire to cook slowly, Carmen says. “This is called a stand-up   rib.”

Turn it every now and then. The whole rib is then cut into individual ribs and each is dipped into marinade and quickly braaied meat side down until nice and crispy.

VEGGIES

Instead of serving salad as a side dish, change things up by cooking vegetables on the braai. Your vegetarian friends will thank you!

Carmen suggests cutting vegetables such as cauliflower, brinjals and baby marrows into slices and braaiing them over the coals until browned on the outside. “Brush often with olive oil,” she adds.

When is the meat done?

Don’t have a thermometer at hand? No problem. You can use your index finger to check if meat is cooked to perfection. 

“If it’s soft to the touch, the steak is rare. Feel it again two minutes later. Soft with some resistance? Medium rare,” explains  Jean Nel, author of Braai the Beloved Country. 

“The muscle fibres become harder as the meat is braaied through. The firmer it feels, the more well-braaied it is.”

Get to know your butcher 

You need quality meat for a good braai.

“I’d love to see more butcher shops around. We live in an era of vacuum-packed meats   where we simply don’t know the source,” says Jean Nel, a braai coach and author of  Braai The Beloved Country.

“Get to know your butcher. Ask them to cut the meat you require for your next braai.”

Chef and Ultimate Braai Master judge, Bertus Basson agrees.

“Get to meet, support and form a relationship with your nearest butcher and follow their recommendations because they should know best.”

Common braai blunders

Don’t overcook the meat or it will be overdone and dry, YOU food editor Carmen Niehaus warns. If your guests end up munching dry lamb chops, next time they’ll confiscate the braai tongs and relegate you to making salads or pouring drinks.

If your coals aren’t the right heat, chances are your braai won’t be a success. Steaks and chops require extremely hot coals,  Carmen says.

Larger pieces of meat, chicken   and griddlecakes should be cooked over medium heat.

Never stick a fork in a piece of meat. This causes the juices to run out and the meat will be dry.

Don’t serve meat immediately after taking   it off the braai.

Although everyone is probably ravenous and eager to tuck in, you should allow large cuts of meat to rest for about 10 minutes.

Your patience will be rewarded as the resting   time allows the juices to be reabsorbed, making the meat juicier, Carmen explains.

Get a copy of YOU Best Recipes:

Braai 2017 and be ready to braai with friends and family on Heritage Day! The magazine is packed with a great selection of mouth-watering recipes as well as useful tips to make your braai extra special. There’s a feast of options for meat, seafood, potjies, kebabs, sides and dessert recipes. Price: R48

Tags: braaiBraai DayBraai Recipes


Related Posts

South African potstill brandy named World’s Best Wine Brandy 2023
Drinks

South African potstill brandy named World’s Best Wine Brandy 2023

May 30, 2023
Auto Draft
Cooking Guides and Tips

How matcha is made – and a version of the bright green tea that won’t make you hurl

May 29, 2023
The Plant Powered Show 2023
Conscious cooking

Watch: A taste of what to expect at The Plant Powered Show 2023

May 26, 2023
Next Post
5 Genius ways to use up your leftover Heritage Day desserts

5 Genius ways to use up your leftover Heritage Day desserts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Food24 Team Loves

10 winter warmer recipes to tuck into this season

10 winter warmer recipes to tuck into this season

April 26, 2023
bananas

Fried, mashed or sushi: 6 non-traditional ways to eat bananas you’ll love

April 19, 2023
The jury’s out on egg alternatives – have you tried these ones?

The jury’s out on egg alternatives – have you tried these ones?

April 12, 2023
speckled-eggs-taste-test

The original Speckled Egg takes on copycat rivals – see the results here

April 6, 2023
misomite

Discovering the world of locally made miso with master fermenter James Kuiper

March 23, 2023

Recent favourites

  • cinnamon-sugar-doughnut-taste-test

    Cinnamon sugar doughnuts: Krispy Kreme vs SA supermarkets

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Spekboom: the overachieving miracle plant

    33 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 6 Porridge recipes to warm up cold winter mornings

    3 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The perfect base ingredients for every curry

    24 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The only store-bought ginger biscuit that packs a sweet crisp gingery bite

    4 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get weekly access to our best recipes, tips and tricks

Sign Up
Footer

Quick links

  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Win

Collections

  • New Recipes
  • Festive
  • Baking
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Braai Recipes
  • Lunchbox
  • South African Recipes
  • Pasta Recipes

Other links

  • Advertise with Food24
  • Editorial Policy
  • How to Pitch
  • Contact us

Not in the mood to cook?

Visit eatout.co.za to find the perfect restaurant near you.

eatout.co.za

© 2020 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

  • About us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • New Media
IAB
No Result
View All Result
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Easter Recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Kitchen design and appliances
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win

© 2019 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms below to register

Subscribe to Newsletter

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Close
Food24
Recipe Disclaimer

All recipe content is the responsibility of the party from whom such content originated. You agree that you use the content on Food24 at your own risk. Please read our editorial policy.
Close
Food24
Get the latest recipes delivered to your inbox weekly
Promotional Newsletter

Be the first to receive information about competitions and special offers from Food24 and it's partners.

You have successfully been subscribed!
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Make sure you have completed all required fields.
I don't want to see this again