7 festive braai mains that will impress your guests

Posted by Abigail Donnelly on 15 December 2022

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7 festive braai mains that will impress your guests — Are you nervous that loadshedding is going to interfere with your Christmas lunch prep? Perhaps your oven is too full and you still need to make your second main? The easiest solution to both these dilemmas is to fire up the braai! Food director Abigail Donnelly has created 7 jaw-dropping festive mains that you can make on the braai.

1. Brisket with sweet-and-sour plums

When there’s brisket on the braai, you know that you’re a special lunch! Add sweet-and-sour plums into the mix and your feast is taken to new heights. Leftover brisket makes delicious sandwiches with tomato and gherkins.

Find the recipe for brisket with sweet-and-sour plums here.

2. Masala snoek

Serve this as a starter and let everyone help themselves, or as a holiday lunch with a creamy potato salad.

Find the recipe for masala snoek here.

ALSO READ: 7 essential South African braai sides

3. Rump with mustard sauce

This rump is made on the braai in a cast iron pan. Plus the mustard sauce is super easy to make. Serve this with slaw and beer bread or dombolo. Sirloin is just as good, too.

Find the recipe for rump with mustard sauce here.

4. Pork shoulder with butter bean salad

This easy pork shoulder pairs perfectly with bean salad. Plus it’s a colourful dish that makes for a great main at a small celebration. Make the salad a day in advance and keep in the fridge to allow the flavours to develop. You can use any beans or a mixture.

Find the recipe for pork shoulder with butter bean salad here.

ALSO READ: How to braai turkey

5. Stuffed rib-eye

his is my favourite cut of meat – we often cook it on the braai for Christmas. The stuffing makes it go a bit further. Stuff it the day before and bring to room temperature before braaiing. If you like, serve it with peppercorn sauce.

Find the recipe for stuffed rib-eye here.

6. Beer-can chicken

This is a fun way to braai a chicken. It was a trend a while ago, so I thought I’d bring it back. The beer adds a malty flavour and keeps the chicken moist, and adding herbs to the beer amps it up even more. Make sure to use a can that doesn’t have a foil or plastic wrapper as it will melt. You can also use a can of lemonade.

Find the recipe for beer-can chicken here

ALSO READ: 8 desserts that are perfect for a braai, according to you

7. Greek leg of lamb with toum

I love serving this in pita breads or with roosterkoek cooked on the fire. If you prefer a deboned leg of lamb, reduce the cooking time to 45 minutes.