Braai is the South African barbecue made from beef, that is similar to that of the Americans’. Braai is one important meal that brings families together when it is being prepared.
There are 4 ethnic groups and 11 different languages in South Africa and this dish do not belong to a specific culture or ethnic group in South Africa. For South Africans, the simple act of cooking food over a fire is something that everyone feels connected to, no matter who they are and what language they speak. It’s a social gathering where friends are always welcomed as family.
Unlike the American barbecue, South Africans take the cooking at a much slower pace. A braai is a special “meat-fest” that can often last for hours on end. Also, a traditional braai is cooked over local hardwood, like kameeldoring wood or apple wood, which gives the meat and other sides a distinct flavour.
It is said that the shape of the steak mimics the shape of Africa. This whole some meal should not be cooked on a gas grill because it is traditionally cooked in an opened grill that has a diamond-patterned metal grill grate (aka grid) or regular grill grates and a large, flat fire pit. If you don’t have a braai-specific grill or plan on getting one, you’ll need at least a kettle grill or fire pit that can accommodate a wood fire.
