Best Braai Tips From Fire & Feast Meat Festival Experts
To give you a taster of what to expect from this year’s Fire & Feast Meat Festival, heating up Joburg’s Ticketpro Dome from 8 to 10 June, we’ve chatted to some of the experts featuring at the meaty exhibition. Here are the top 10 braai tips from the masters of meat, braai, sauce and spice.
1. Crown National
A leading supplier of spices, herbs, seasonings, sauces and condiments, Crown National – the event sponsor - knows the best way to add flavour to any braai.
• If you’re looking for something that goes with absolutely any meal, then Crown National’s Six Gun Grill is the perfect braai mate. It’s a well-balanced blend of herbs and spices and is ideal for grilled beef, chicken and lamb as well as potjies, mince and stews.
• Chicken flavours can be enhanced with Citrus Rub or Sriracha Rub, the last of which is also a great beef spice.
• Both beef and lamb work well with a sprinkle of Chimichurri Rub.
2. BraaiBoy
Featuring in this year’s Braaitology, brought to you by Chad-O-Chef is the South African braai wonder and Chad-O-Chef ambassador, BraaiBoy. Having cooked on an open flame every day of his life for the past eight years, BraaiBoy has some must-try braai tips.
• Quality over quantity. Don’t be afraid of spending a little more at a quality butcher.
• Don’t prod or poke boerewors … you lose a lot of the juices by doing that.
• Dip wors in water before braaing. This reduces the risk of breaking and, if your fire is too hot, turning the wors more frequently will also reduce the risk of bursting.
3. Chad-O-Chef
Leading manufacturers of gas braais, Chad-O-Chef have the best insights into optimising your braai for the ultimate meaty feast.
• Ribs - braai best on a medium heat. Often purchased pre-cooked, ribs don’t need long on the braai before ready.
• Roasts (in a pan) - Pre-Heat the roasting dome, already installed on your braai, to 150°C using the outer-most burners on high and centre burners on their lowest setting (to create a convection heating effect). Glaze the roast with oil and seasoning and place them in a pan in the centre of the dome (preferably accompanied with potatoes to soak up the goodness!).
• Roasts (on rotisserie rod) - Pre-Heat the roasting dome with all burners on high to 150°C. Set your roast into the dome and lock all fixtures. Leave the dome open with all burners on high for the first 5 minutes to sear your roast, then turn any burners below your roast down to their lowest setting and place a roasting pan underneath the roast to catch drippings, for a gravy later. Check on your roast and re-baste often.
4. The Bearded Chef
He has a beard. He loves to cook. He’s the bearded chef. And one thing this wholesome farmer likes to do, when braaing, is keep it simple.
• The best meat from the braai is just that - the best meat cut you can find, lightly oiled and straight to the braai. Salt and spicing can happen thereafter. And if you bother to marinade, do it a couple of days in advance.
• Choose great ingredients – South Africa has, not only the best meat on offer, but great olive oils and wines too.
• Be adventurous! Make a separate fire so you can add more coals to your braai. This way, you can control the heat over a longer period of time, allowing you to prepare some non-traditional items such as legs of lamb, or even brisket.
5. Lamb and Mutton SA
If you’re looking for some of the best lamb and mutton braai tips then consumer-awareness organisation, Lamb and Mutton SA, has all the answers.
• For medium to well lamb loin chops with crispy fat, line up the chops on a skewer and braai with the fat side down before removing the skewer and braaing as usual.
• For medium to rare lamb rib chops with crispy fat, place the frozen chops on the braai. When the fat is crispy, the meat will be perfect.
• Stuff rosemary in between your skewered lamb chops to infuse some flavour into the meat
while you crisp up the fat.
6. Sparta Beef
For the beefiest braai tips, there’s nowhere else to turn to but Sparta Beef. Here are some of their hottest suggestions.
• If you’re concerned that your braai isn’t hot enough, it probably isn’t. Steak needs a hot flame.
• Always allow your steak to rest before eating – it should rest for the same amount of time it was on the grill.
• Rest cooked meat on a bed of sautéed onions – this will ensure the meat doesn’t dry out.
7. County Fair & Festive
South African integrated poultry producer, Astral Foods Limited, will be bringing their popular County Fair & Festive ranges to this year’s Fire & Feast. They know the best way to braai a truly succulent chicken…here’s how!
• When you’re choosing chicken for the braai, remember that boneless pieces cook faster than boned.
• If you use marinade, try and avoid excess sugar – it turns the chicken black. Brush marinade on your chicken with a rosemary branch to add extra, subtle flavour.
• Braai chicken over moderate coals and turn regularly - too hot and the skin will burn, but the inside will stay raw.
To learn more exciting ways to prepare, cook and enjoy all types of meat, don’t miss out on any of the action at Fire & Feast Meat Festival. The saucy line-up of features includes:
• The Sparta Beef Theatre, The Poultry Theatre brought to you by County Fair & Festive, and The Lamb & Mutton SA Theatre
• Braaitology brought to you by Chad-O-Chef
• BRM Brands Bistro
• Live entertainment daily
• SA’s Winning National Butchers Team supported by Crown National
• A range of exhibitions which complement the ultimate South African meat and braai experience
Eat, meat, feast and repeat at the ultimate meat, braai and music celebration. Tickets are available from computicket or at the door. No alcohol will be served to U18’s.
For more information follow Fire & Feast Meat Festival on:
Facebook: Fire and Feast Meat Festival
Instagram: @fireandfeast
Twitter: @fireandfeastSA
Fire & Feast Meat Festival Schedule
Exclusive Trade Morning on Friday 8 June: 10am – 12pm
Open to the Public Friday 8th June: 12pm – 6pm
Saturday 9th June: 10am – 6pm
Sunday 10th June: 10am – 6pm
Tickets
Ticket price: Adults R100
Trade: R100 at the door
Pensioners: R80
Children: R20