South African Braai

South African Braai

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Braaivleis is an Afrikaans word meaning “meat grill”, and most often is abbreviated as Braai (rhymes with “dry”). South African Braai is a very popular way of preparing food in this country. In addition to their love of all kinds of seafoods, South Africans love meat: red meat, poultry, pork, lamb, goat, and they have a love of cooking meals over an open fire.

So grilling meats over an open fire, which is really all that braai is, comes naturally to them as a favored kind of meal preparation.

South African Braai Public Domain

And they like to share in the fun. Having a Braai is an immensely social occasion, one in which family and friends gather to enjoy good company (and drink lots of beer!) before and during the grilling, and of course sharing in the tasty grilled meat and side dishes once the braai is done. Also, although it is traditionally the women who do the cooking, having a braai is the most likely time you will find a South African man doing the grilling.

(It seems grilling meat is a “man-thing” the world over, hm?) winking smiley

Anything can be grilled for a braai, even seafood, but traditionally the meal will consist of mammoth slabs of racks of lamb, lamb cutlets, beef steaks, pork ribs, and the South African specialty sausage, boerewors.

For the side dishes, an assortment of vegetables, most often quartered onions, cubed butternut squash and potatoes are seasoned with salt and pepper, perhaps some braai herb seasoning, are wrapped up tight in a couple layers of aluminum foil. Also in the fold they will add some garlicky herb butter, to not only prevent food from sticking to the foil, but to add even more flavor. The packages are then placed in the smoldering embers to cook during the meat grilling.

You ready for your South African Braai?

Good. Me too. Just reading this next recipe has The Old Silly quite hungry!

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Senegalese Mafé

Senegalese Mafé

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Senegalese Mafé (Meat in Ground Peanuts Stew) is a national favorite dish in Senegal. May African countries make soups and stews using peanuts. They typically call them “ground nuts” because they are “nuts” that grow under ground. Mafé can be made with almost any meat: chicken, beef, lamb, goat, whatever. This Senegalese Mafé recipe calls for beef. It is a marvelous stew, very African, and very delicious!

Senegalese Mafé

(Photo Attributed to Author: Rezwalker)

Senegalese Mafé Recipe-

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All American Style Breakfast

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All American Style Breakfast

(Photo Attributed to Author: Carlos Menendez, San Juan)

The All American Style Breakfast is served in more households and restaurants than any other type of breakfast in the United States of America.

Eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, Canadian bacon, hashed brown potatoes, toast and jam and/or pancakes and syrup, let me tell you – it is very satisfying!

Note: if you are going to serve pancakes, make them first, before preparing the rest of your All American Style Breakfast. Keep them warm in a tightly sealed deep bowl or in the oven while you prepare the rest of the meal. You will have enough irons in the fire that you won’t want to be also having to be worried about preparing perfect pancakes at the same time, trust me.

For a good recipe for easy to make, simple, but perfect and tasty homemade pancakes, click here. For a recipe for some kicked up, jazzier pancakes, try Pecan Oatmeal Pancakes or  Raspberry Sour Cream Pancakes.

All American Style Breakfast Recipe-

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Belizean Conch Fritters

Belizean Conch Fritters

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Belizean Conch Fritters are easier to make if you have a good quality blender or, better yet, a food processor  If you have either one of those, you can process the conch into a puree with ease. If not, you will need to chop and mince the meat and then pulverize it into a smooth pulp in a mortar and pestle.

Conch Fritters are a very popular dish in Belize, and once you’ve tried them, my bet is they will be on your list of favorites, too.

Belizean Conch Fritters

(Photo Attributed to Author: PETER LUNGILE CHIDOTHE)

Belizean Conch Fritters Recipe-

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Nigerian Suya Skewers

Nigerian Suya Skewers

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This Nigerian Suya Skewers recipe is taken from our African Cuisine/Nigerian Cuisine page. Nigerian Suya Skewers are as popular in Nigeria as the hot dog and hamburger are in the USA. Every culture has its favored “fast foods” and treats that can be bought in the marketplace, freshly prepared by street vendors. This spicy, barbecued beef treat can be found everywhere in every city, town and village in Nigeria. And you can prepare it at home with your charcoal or gas grill and achieve authentic results with the following recipe.

Nigerian Suya Skewers

(Photo Attributed to Author: Honeybee5512)

Nigerian Suya Skewers Recipe-

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Irish Dublin Coddle

Irish Dublin Coddle

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Irish Dublin Coddle got its name after the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland, and also the manner in which it is prepared. It is a sort of “coddling” the ingredients into a tasty meal, done so in an oven with water that cooks the dish in mildly boiling water. Personally I think the name should also represent how this wonderful comfort food can coddle you and cajole you in to a great mood.

Irish Dublin Coddle

(Photo Attributed to Author Coddle head at English Wikipedia)

Irish Dublin Coddle Recipe-

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