Hello there, is it time for yet another braai? Whether you live in sunny South Africa or on foreign shores, South Africans never need a reason to fire up the coals. Anytime is the right braai-time in our books! However, if we have the added benefit of a genuine excuse to haul out the braai tongs and smoke goggles, then all the better.
Heritage Day 2021
September is heritage month, and South Africans across the country and abroad will be celebrating their diverse cultures, beliefs, and traditions throughout this period. It’s a roots thing! The one thing we all have in common is how we love to celebrate our diversity with a traditional South African braai! So bring on all the trimmings, the delicious braai side dishes, and crusty coal-baked bread, not to mention the endless supply of succulent steaks, chicken wings, and tasty boerewors rolls.
And with heritage day 2021 landing on a Friday this year, it is simply the perfect excuse to whip out some South African braai recipes and eat ourselves into a food-induced coma. Woza weekend and the ultimate braai day!
Celebrating Heritage day
This year we want to celebrate heritage day with extra exuberance and flair. It’s been a tough year with covid-19 restrictions and the unrest that saw communities working together, showing true South African spirit as they stood united. So, what better way to celebrate this diverse unity than to have the mother of all braai’s surrounded by family and friends?
Of course, we all know that braai recipes are delicious; otherwise, why would we have them? But, perhaps it’s time to give the usual braai ideas a swift face-lift and try some fresh and exciting braai recipes? So, take a sneaky peek at some of our gourmet braai recipes ideas and put on a delectable spread for your family and friends this heritage day.
We have selected a few of our favourite dishes and put them together to create the perfect gourmet spread, starting with braaied bacon-wrapped pork fillet. Sound delicious? Let’s dive in!
Braaied bacon-wrapped pork fillet
Ingredients
To prepare the braaied bacon-wrapped pork fillet, you will need to gather the following ingredients.
What you need
- 1kg Pork fillet whole
- 500g streaky bacon
- 1 Tbsp Olive oil
- 2 Tbsp Mustard (Dijon)
- Salt and ground pepper to season
What to do
Follow these easy preparation instructions.
- Start by removing the silver skin covering on the pork fillet. Then using a flat-edged knife, slide the knife’s sharp point under the silver skin and slowly slide the knife along the fillet. Or, you can request your butcher to remove the skin when you purchase the fillet.
- Place the pork fillet on a wooden cutting board and gently massage with olive oil.
- Using a basting brush, spread the mustard over the pork fillet until entirely covered.
- Next season the pork fillet with a bit of salt and pepper.
- Now wrap the streaky bacon around the pork fillet. It’s easier to lay the bacon strips on a flat board and place the mustard-covered pork fillet on top. Then wrap the bacon pieces up and over the top of the pork fillet, securing the ends with toothpicks.
- Next, use a basting brush to baste the bacon-covered pork fillet with a little more olive oil.
- Now, place the fillet on the braai grid over hot coals to brown for 10 minutes, turn the fillet carefully to avoid the bacon unwrapping.
- After the first 10 minutes, raise the braai grid to decrease the heat and cook for a further 10-15 minutes. The bacon should be brown and crispy, and the fillet cooked but not dried out.
- Remove from the braai grid and allow to rest for three to five minutes before serving.
Serving suggestion
Slice into thick chunks and serve on a bed of fresh green salad leaves with roasted potato salad and homemade honey and mustard dressing.
The side serving is quick and easy, so let’s get straight into what you need to do.
Roasted potato salad with honey mustard dressing
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this delicious braai side dish.
What you need for the salad
- 1 red pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow pepper, sliced
- 1 Kg baby potatoes washed and cut in half
- 1 tin of black beans drained
- 1 avocado cubed
- 1 small onion sliced
- 200g cherry tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- Salt and ground pepper to season
What you need for the salad dressing
- 2 Tbsp clear honey
- 2 Tbsp whole grain mustard
- 60 ml virgin olive oil
- 1 small red chilli finely chopped
What to do
- Start your preparations by preheating the oven to 200 C
- Place the potatoes and sliced peppers on a large baking tray and season with salt and pepper.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the halved baby potatoes and peppers, ensuring they are well coated.
- Place the baking tray in the oven for 35 – 40 minutes.
- Remove the baking tray from the oven when the potatoes are golden and the peppers are soft.
- Now take a large salad bowl and layer the bottom with the roasted potatoes and peppers.
- Next, carefully layer the beans, tomatoes, avocado cubes, and sliced onion on the potatoes and peppers.
- Using a hand whisk combine the ingredients for the salad dressing and drizzle generously over the salad.
- Garnish the salad with fresh baby coriander and thinly sliced spring onions.
Now that you have the fixings for the perfect gourmet feast, we hope your heritage day 2021 is one to remember!
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