Load shedding won’t dim your festive spirit with these diverse and delicious braai recipes. From appetisers to desserts, mix and match for the ultimate festive menu this year.
Appetisers: A prelude to festive feasting
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- Mushroom braai pizza: Portabello mushrooms topped with tomato, cheese, and your favourite toppings – a hand-held delight for your guests!
- Lamb mixed grill: Indulge in skilpadjies, skaapstertjies and moskonfyt-basted lamb saddle chops, served with grilled grapes stuffed with camembert cheese.
- South African charcuterie board: Featuring biltong, droewors, nuts, boerenkaas and more. Or try these bacon, blue cheese, and fig chilli poppers for a tantalising surprise.
- Assorted dips and crudité: From beetroot dip with seed crackers to avocado hummus and a plant-based snack platter with maple-mustard dip, explore a variety of flavourful dips.
- Pork banger kofta kebabs: these cheat kofta kebabs use pork bangers innovatively, perfect for the braai.
Starters: Ignite the appetite
- Three-cheese mushroom pie: This braaied cheesy delight is the perfect starter to pop on the braai.
- Spanakopita braai pie: Indulge in a healthy dose of greens with a delicious buttery puff twist.
- Avo’prese: A no-cook salad variation of a classic Caprese salad with the addition of avocado; ideal for a quick serve with crispy bread.
- Mexican-style nectarine salad: Seasonal fruit combined in a feast-for-the-eyes salad with a light and creamy plant-based dressing.
Avo Caprese salad
Main spread: From braai brilliance to seafood sensations
Meaty options:
- Braaied leg of lamb: Served with zingy chimichurri sauce, this is a sensational swap for the classic roast.
- Char-grilled ribeye steak: A Mzansi-flavoured delight served with fresh amasi dressing.
- Peri-peri chicken pieces: Made deliciously festive with an easy raisin relish, this is perfect for load-shedding moments!
- Pork, pineapple and pepper kebabs: these sweet and sour pork inspired kebabs are guaranteed to be hit!
- Gammon-and-pineapple sweet chilli kebabs: Gammon is a must, even with load shedding!
Gammon kebabs
Seafood:
- Festive prawns on the braai: A must-try recipe for prawn enthusiasts.
- Smoked paprika-garlic butter snoek: A delightful twist on the classic braaied South African snoek.
- Whole braaied yellowtail with apricot glaze: An embodiment of festive flair and wonderful flavours.
- Potjie-style mussels: Quick and tasty, choose from creamy green curry or classic white wine and garlic.
Festive prawns on the braai
Vegetarian:
- Cheesy braai pie: A plant-based twist that won’t leave your vegetarian or vegan guests disappointed.
- Miso-flavoured braaied butternut: An irresistible butternut variation seasoned to perfection with umami-rich miso.
- Flame-charred aubergines: Filled with goat’s milk cheese and adorned with pomegranate pops for that extra flair.
- Chakalaka-cheddar cheese braaibroodjie: A classic cheesy favourite, elevated with a flavourful chakalaka twist.
Cheezy braai pie
Side options:
- Warm potato salad: Prep ahead for easy entertaining or indulge in a biltong braaied potato salad.
- Corn and tomato salad: Add flavour by braaiing the corn before assembling this refreshing salad.
- Grilled peach and Parma ham salad: peach, Parma ham, pomegranate, pumpkin seeds and Parmesan shavings – all the makings of a perfect festive salad!
- Sorghum rainbow salad: Eye-catching, tasty and convenient, the perfect prep-ahead hosting hack for festive salad bliss!
- Bacon beer bread: Braai this quick DIY beer bread for a delectable side option. Opt for a meat-free version by skipping the bacon.
Sorghum rainbow salad
Dessert: Keeping the fire alive
- Dark chocolate and banana braaibroodjies: A South African favourite for a sweet ending!
- Chocolate braai pie: Served with ice cream, because festive indulgence knows no bounds.
- Braai doughnut duo: Choose between doughnut s’mores or doughnuts with lemon curd, mascarpone, and mixed berries for a delightful braaied twist on classic treats!
Doughnut S’mores
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