It’s that time of the year again. Winter has come and this year it promises to be an extra cold one. You might think that us braai crazed South Africans pack away the tongs for winter, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Cooking on an open flame is a year round event when you have a gas braai at your disposal.
There’s nothing better than coming home to a roaring fire in the middle of winter but if you are like most of us, you get home when the sun starts going down already. When you get home from a long day’s work it’s just easier to fire up the gas or skottel braai at the end of the day.
If you live in the Cape then you know how gloomy the winters can be. You will experience rain, mist and fog and this can turn even the biggest smile upside-down. With gas there’s no reason to let this get to you. Up on the Highveld, the winters are very different. No rain, but the blistering cold keeps you firmly planted behind closed doors. If you want to get that flame grilled taste, then you can still braai indoors with gas.
The beauty of a gas braai is it allows you to cook anywhere. For those extra cold days you can braai indoors and if you are feeling a bit more daring, light it up on the patio with your friends and family for a cosy get-together. You don’t need full sunshine to have friends or family over this winter.
Gas braais are useless if you don’t know what you will be cooking, so here are some meal ideas that are perfect for winter:
Beef Fillet or Rump stir fry
This meal is as easy as it is healthy. The preparation probably takes longer than the actual cooking time and it’s a great way to get the family together by getting everyone to help out with the chopping. To make things even easier, you can buy everything pre-cut. First cook the meat and then pop everything into one big wok that you can put straight onto the gas braai, and finish it off with some oyster or soy sauce.
Seafood Potjie
The Potjie is definitely a favorite in South Africa and nothing gets closer to the perfect home meal than a Seafood Potjie. This is a very traditional way for South Africans to prepare seafood. Not only does it fill the winter gap but if done properly, you can make enough food to feed the family for a few days.
Stuffed Zucchini, Sweet Bell Peppers or Tomatoes
This is a very Mediterranean dish and very easy to prepare. It looks great and it’s healthy. All of these aspects make this the perfect winter dish. Top if off with some Parmesan cheese or sprinkle some basil over the dish for that extra taste explosion.
Home-made bread
People are normally hesitant to make bread at home and even more hesitant to make it on their skottel braai. In reality it is actually quite easy to make, especially if you have a fancy gas braai with a thermometer attached to the lid. The nice thing about bread is all the variations one can make. You can add anything from feta cheese to spinach to nuts. It’s a very versatile dish.
Chocolate Bananas
Something warm and sweet is definitely the way to go during winter. This recipe is easy and quick to make. Drizzle it with some dark rum or a spicy cardamom syrup if you want a non-alcoholic alternative.
Click here for some more ideas for winter recipes.
If you are looking for the perfect way to get your braai on and still keep warm this winter, then a gas braai is definitely for you. We have a wide range of gas braais for sale at Junk Mail. It’s also the perfect place to shop and compare prices. Selling your gas or skottel braai? Place your free ad on www.JunkMail.co.za.