National Braai Day comes around every year on 24 September and people from all over SA have already set aside time to celebrate this popular tradition. National Braai Day has brought a whole new meaning to our traditional Heritage Day celebrations and allows for an exciting day of fun and food.

There are many delicious recipes you can prepare to make your Braai Day even more memorable, and we'll how you how to make some.

Lamb Sosaties

What you'll need:
• 12 skewers, soaked in water overnight
• 1,5 kg leg of lamb, thick rib or shoulder, deboned and cut into 25 mm cubes
• 2 medium onions, halved lengthways, peeled and blanched in boiling water for 5 minutes (retain water), refreshed in ice water and layers separated
• 100g (2/3 cup) dried apricots, soaked in onion water 


Now for the delicious curry marinade:
• 4 large onions, sliced
• 15 ml mild curry powder (any generic brand will do)
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 30 ml cooking oil
• 750 ml vinegar
• 45 ml sugar
• 45 ml apricot jam (or 30 ml brown sugar)
• 4 bay leaves
• 7 ml salt
• 5 ml turmeric
• Pinch of pepper
• Pinch of chilli powder 


How to prepare: 

Start by sautéing the onions in heated cooking oil, until they are transparent. Add the curry powder and fry for about two minutes. Add all the remaining ingredients and simmer for a few more minutes. Leave to cool. Drain the meat and cover it with the curry marinade, and leave this overnight. Thread the skewers, alternating between the meat, apricots, and onion pieces. Grill slowly over your hot coals. 


Braai Salad 


What you'll need:
• A pack of tasty, thick boerewors
• 1 punnet cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium onion, skin still on
• 1 yellow pepper, halved and deseeded
• 2 mealie cobs, sliced into rounds
• Mixed lettuce leaves of your choice
• Olive oil and balsamic vinegar

How to prepare: 

Make sure your braai grid has small holes so that you don't lose your tomatoes. Get your fire going to medium heat, and put the onion directly into the coals (no foil required). Put the boerewors and mealie cobs onto the grid, and wait until the meat starts browning before your put the tomatoes and peppers on. Keep turning the veggies and mealies, until they are a good, even colour. Make sure that your tomatoes do not overcook.

Next, put lettuce leaves in a bowl and dress with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. When soft, slice your pepper halves and toss them into the leaves with the tomatoes. Chop your boerewors into smaller, bite size chunks and add to the salad. Cut your onion and add to the salad; serve your salad with the mealie rounds on the side – delicious! 


Braai Broodjies 


This is one of the easiest and most popular additions at any braai – and everyone loves it.

What you'll need: 

• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Cheese
• Bread 


How to prepare: 

Simply prepare the sandwiches as you normally would; butter your bread slices and add tomato, onions, and cheese slices in-between. When your sandwich is done, place in on the grid and wait until it toasts to a nice golden brown colour. Turn around and toast the other side – and you are done!

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