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The South African Braai Guide: How to Braai Like a Pro in the UK
A complete guide to braaing like a South African in the UK — where to buy boerewors, the best equipment, choosing cuts, and traditional side dishes that bring home to Britain.
Key Takeaways
- ✓ A real braai uses wood or charcoal — never gas
- ✓ Boerewors is the heart of any South African braai — find it at SA butchers across the UK
- ✓ Light your fire 45 minutes before you want to cook
- ✓ Pap, chakalaka, and braai broodjies are the essential side dishes
- ✓ Braaing is about the social experience as much as the food
A braai is more than a barbecue — it's a social institution. It's the fire, the friends, the smell of boerewors, and the hours spent around the grill. Here's how to bring that South African tradition to your UK garden, balcony, or park.
Choosing Your Braai Equipment
THE KETTLE BRAAI IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
The Weber kettle braai is the most popular choice for UK homes. It's versatile, holds heat well, and works for everything from boerewors to potbrood. A 57cm Weber is the standard size and costs £150-£250.
- Weber Original Kettle 57cm: The gold standard — £150-£200
- Cadac Safari Chef: Portable gas option for balconies (not a real braai, but practical)
- Brazier or half-drum braai: Cheaper, traditional, and great for big gatherings
- Built-in brick braai: If you own your home and have a garden, this is the dream
WHAT ABOUT GAS?
A gas grill is not a braai — it's a barbecue. Real South Africans braai with wood or charcoal. If you only have a balcony and gas is your only option, that's fine, but don't call it a braai. Use a Cadac or similar portable gas grill and add wood chips for smoke flavour.
Where to Buy Boerewors and SA Meats in the UK
BOEREWORS IS THE HEART OF THE BRAAI
You can't braai without boerewors. Fortunately, there are South African butchers and shops across the UK that sell proper boerewors, wors, biltong, and droëwors.
- SA butchers in London: Springbok Foods (Wimbledon), The South African Butcher (Ealing), and Braai Pack UK
- Online SA food shops: Biltong UK, South African Food UK, and Saffa Shop deliver nationwide
- Major supermarkets: Some Tesco and Waitrose stores stock biltong and boerewors in areas with large SA communities
- Find SA butchers near you on the Saffas Connect Business Directory
THE BEST CUTS FOR THE BRAAI
- Boerewors: The essential coil — cook it first so it's ready when guests arrive
- Lamb chops (skaap chops): Marinate in garlic, lemon, and herbs overnight
- Beef ribs: Slow-cook over indirect heat for 2-3 hours
- Chicken sosaties (kebabs): Marinate in apricot and curry marinade
- Braai broodjies: Toasted sandwiches with cheese, tomato, onion, and chutney
Lighting the Fire: Wood vs Charcoal
WOOD IS BEST, CHARCOAL IS PRACTICAL
A real braai uses wood — preferably hardwood like rooikrantz, sekkelbos, or in the UK, oak, ash, or beech. Wood gives the best flavour but takes longer to get ready. Charcoal is faster and more practical for UK gardens.
- Hardwood logs: Best flavour — light 1 hour before cooking. Buy from local firewood suppliers
- Lumpwood charcoal: Good flavour, ready in 30 minutes. Avoid cheap briquettes which contain chemicals
- Briquettes: Convenient but burn unevenly and can give food a chemical taste
- Firelighters: Use natural wood wool firelighters, not chemical ones
HOW TO LIGHT A FIRE PROPERLY
| Pos | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Place two or three firelighters in the centre of the braai |
| 2 | Build a pyramid of kindling or small charcoal pieces over them |
| 3 | Light the firelighters and wait for the kindling to catch |
| 4 | Add larger pieces of wood or charcoal around the pyramid |
| 5 | Wait until the flames die down and the coals are white-grey — about 30-45 minutes |
| 6 | Spread the coals evenly and start cooking |
Never braai over flames — always wait for the coals. Flames char the outside and leave the inside raw.
Traditional South African Braai Side Dishes
THE SIDES ARE AS IMPORTANT AS THE MEAT
A South African braai isn't complete without pap, chakalaka, and braai broodjies. Here's what to serve.
- Pap (mielie pap): The South African staple — a thick maize porridge served with tomato and onion sauce or chakalaka
- Chakalaka: A spicy vegetable relish made with beans, carrots, peppers, and curry spices
- Braai broodjies: Toasted sandwiches made on the braai — white bread, cheese, tomato, onion, and chutney
- Potato salad: South African style with mustard, eggs, and mayonnaise
- Garlic bread: Cooked on the braai in foil
- Green salad: For the one healthy person at the braai
WHERE TO BUY PAP AND CHAKALAKA
Most SA food shops in the UK sell pre-made chakalaka in jars and mielie meal for pap. You can also find Iwisa and Ace brands online. For an authentic taste, make chakalaka from scratch — it's easy and keeps for a week in the fridge.
Pro Tips
Marinate overnight
Lamb chops and sosaties taste best when marinated for 24 hours. A simple marinade of garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs works wonders. For sosaties, add apricot jam and curry powder for that classic SA flavour.
Use a meat thermometer
UK lamb and beef cuts are different from SA cuts. Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking — 55°C for medium-rare lamb, 60°C for medium. Boerewors is done when it's firm to the touch and browned on all sides.
Braai in UK parks legally
Many UK parks allow disposable BBQs but not open fires. Check your local council website for rules. Wimbledon Common, Hampstead Heath, and many London parks have designated BBQ areas. Always extinguish fully and take your rubbish home.
Join a braai community
The Saffas Connect community groups often organise braai meetups, especially in summer. Join the 'Social & Events' group to find braais near you — it's a great way to meet other Saffas and share the load.
Action Points
Find a SA butcher near you
- 1.Go to the Saffas Connect Business Directory
- 2.Search for 'butcher' or 'boerewors'
- 3.Filter by your city or postcode
- 4.Call to check stock before visiting — boerewors sells out fast on weekends
Join a braai meetup
- 1.Create a free Saffas Connect account
- 2.Join the 'Social & Events' community group
- 3.Check for upcoming braai meetups in your area
- 4.Or post your own braai and invite other Saffas
✅ Quick Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I braai on a UK balcony?
It depends on your building. Many UK flats and apartments prohibit open-flame braais on balconies for fire safety. Check your lease or ask your building manager. If open flames are banned, use a Cadac Safari Chef or electric grill — it's not a real braai, but it's better than nothing.
Where can I buy boerewors in the UK?
South African butchers in London (Springbok Foods in Wimbledon, The SA Butcher in Ealing) sell fresh boerewors. For nationwide delivery, try Biltong UK, Saffa Shop, or South African Food UK. Some Tesco and Waitrose stores in areas with large SA communities also stock boerewors.
What's the difference between a braai and a BBQ?
A braai uses wood or charcoal — never gas. The fire is part of the social experience, and the cooking happens over hot coals, not flames. A BBQ (especially a UK one) often uses gas and is more about quick cooking. A braai is an event that lasts hours, with the fire as the centrepiece.
Can I braai in UK public parks?
Many UK parks allow disposable BBQs in designated areas, but not open wood fires. Check your local council's website for rules. Wimbledon Common, Hampstead Heath, and many London parks have BBQ zones. Always bring water to extinguish the fire and take all rubbish home.
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