The Ultimate Braai Partner

South Africans know the best way to celebrate spring and family is around the braai. Try these delicious braai side-dishes to keep your gathering local and lekker…

No braai is complete without the sides – and we all have our family favourites; the perfect accompaniments to sizzling servings of tasty pork sosaties or a juicy piece of boerie.

This heritage month, keep it local and lekker by including these iconic side-dishes in your next braai.

CLASSIC CARBS: POTATOES

A braai is incomplete without a classic, potato-based side-dish, and there are many ways to get creative with this starchy staple. From creamy potato salad with a hint of garlic, to smoky baked potatoes loaded with any of your favourite toppings – from bacon, cheese, sour cream and chives – they’re all delicious! If you’re feeding a crowd, everyone’s mom has a hearty potato bake recipe up her sleeve. And, if you’re looking for a healthier twist, replacing regular potato for sweet potato is a delicious way to cut down on calories.

THE A-LIST THREE BEAN SALAD

If you’re looking for a starchy side salad that’s not potato-related, why not opt for a tropical bean or tossed pasta salad? This salad offers a refreshing and filling twist to the regular side salad and is the perfect burst of freshness alongside freshly grilled pork chops.

GETTING CORNY

Like potatoes, another iconic dish you’ll find on the braai table will be some form of corn. Whether it’s sweetcorn baked into a delicious bread, or whole mielies freshly roasted on the braai and topped with butter and spices – corn is a must-have on any a braai day.

LOCAL, LEKKER CHAKALAKA

This hearty and authentically South Africa vegetable relish dish is heaven beside a sizzling pork braai. This side-dish found its roots with mine workers in Gauteng, who got creative with the ingredients they had available at the time. Chock-full of flavour, chakalaka has since become a staple on many family tables. It’s a comforting, familiar taste of home.

COMFORTING PAP

Enjoyed in homes across the country, mielie pap is as diverse as it is easy to prepare. The tasty maize meal can be made into a smooth, creamy porridge or a crumbly, savoury side dish that’s best served with braai meat. There is nothing quite like soaking up the extra braai spices and sauces with a healthy serving of pap.

TIMELESS GARLIC BREAD

You can never go wrong with a crunchy, classic garlic roll. Store-bought or homemade, this quick and easy side-dish always pairs perfectly with a braai.

SAMP & BEANS

Another hearty, local dish you will find on many braai tables across the nation is traditional samp (crushed corn kernels) and beans. Stemming from the Nguni people of South Africa, this traditional dish has become a staple that is rich in local flavour.

ROASTED VEGGIES

Easy and quick to prepare, there are many ways to serve vegetables alongside braai meat. Either pop them directly onto the braai, wrapped them in foil, or roast them in the oven. These veggies are not only tasty, but add a fun, vibrant element to your braai plating.

FRESHLY BAKED 'ROOSTERKOEK'

What better way to enjoy a braai than with freshly made roosterkoek? Roosterkoek (or a ‘grill cake’) refers to fresh white bread dough cooked directly on the braai. You can find pre-mixes at many local stores or you could choose to make your dough from scratch.

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