All the gifts mentioned in this Guide are available at your nearest LK’s retailer.

 

Need more braai gift ideas for men?

Explore our range of Christmas gift ideas for men here.

Need more braai gift ideas for kids?

Spoil your little braaier with our range of Christmas gift ideas for kids here. 

Don’t walk, run to your nearest LK’s retailer and shop for these amazing gifts!

 

Need more braai gift ideas for women?

Explore our wide variety of Christmas gift ideas for women here.

Need more braai gift ideas for kids?

Explore our range of Christmas gift ideas for kids here.

Two things that bring family together like no other is Christmas and a lekker braai. Let your kid join in on the fun with these amazing kiddies braai gifts.

Need more braai gift ideas for men?

Explore our wide variety of Christmas gift ideas for men here.

Need more braai gift ideas for women?

We’ve got the perfect gift idea for that special lady in your life here.

There is nothing better than a freshly caught piece of fish and a glass of wine as the sun sets after a long day at the beach. However, combining wine with fish or seafood might be particularly challenging.

You might wonder, what kind of wine should you choose? It’s very common to hear that red wine goes well with meat, and white wine goes great with fish. As you continue reading, you'll see that's just not always the case.

Below is a guide on how to pair wine with different seafood

Wine Pairings with Salmon

Chardonnay - since the 1980s, the Chardonnay grape has gained popularity in South African vineyards and thrives in the dry climate. Fruit flavors, particularly citrus and peach, can be correlated with this unique wine. Due to the barrels that wooded Chardonnay wines are fermented in, it radiates oak-, spicy and woody notes that many consumers particularly enjoy. Acidity and salinity are maintained at the proper amounts by the mineral balance of the wine.

Chardonnay is best paired with salmon, trout, hake, haddock and monkfish.

*Top 4 South African Chardonnay wines to try: Springfield Estate Méthode Ancienne Chardonnay 2019, Babylonstoren Chardonnay 2021, Restless River Ava Marie 2019, Alvi's Drift Chardonnay Reserve 2019

 Wine Pairings with Sushi

Sauvignon Blanc - the Sauvignon Blanc wine is a crisp, dry, and rejuvenating white varietal wine with green and herbal flavors. The flavor might be severely sweet and tropical, depending on the climate. The grape tends to create wines with considerable acidity and "green flavors" of grass and green peppers. Where the environment is colder, more tropical fruit and flowery notes are displayed.

Excellent matches for Sauvignon Blanc are fresh crab, sushi, sashimi, light-cooked shellfish like oysters and prawns.

 

*Top 4 South African Sauvignon Blanc wines to try: Skaap Eline 2020, David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019, David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Groote Post Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc 2021

 

Wine Pairings with Seafood Pasta

The best route to pair any wine with food, especially something like seafood pasta, is to do it according to the region where the dish was made.

This means that you should aim to serve a bottle of Spanish wine, preferably from the coasts of Spain, with any seafood pasta that has a Spanish flavour. Depending on your preference, it can be red or white. It's crucial that the regions match as closely as you can in this pairing.

 

Wine Pairings with Lobster

For seafood enthusiasts, lobster is regarded as the pinnacle of elegance. It is rich, meaty, and exquisite. Due to the strong meaty textures of lobster, it is best to pair it with a wine that complements its flavor, such as a Chardonnay, or a wine that will enhance the dish's buttery flavor with pleasant fragrant notes, such as a Riesling.

A delicate MCC has the versatility to pair with practically any cuisine, especially lobster, if you're in the mood for indulgence. For the most complementary flavor profile, try to get one that is primarily made with Chardonnay grapes. Montpellier’s MCC Brut Chardonnay 2016 should definitely be on your bucket list for this one.

 

Wine Pairings with Haddock

Pinot Grigio - The milder South African Pinot Grigio wines have a crisp, zingy, refreshing palate of subtropical and stone fruit with some spicy undertones. It contains a bit of sweetness and less acidity than stronger Sauvignon Blanc. These wines generally taste of pear and dried apricots with a subtle citrus undertone. When serving lean white fish like haddock, trout or tuna, Pinot Grigio is the wine to choose.

Haddock doesn't normally pair well with red wine due to its light, flaky, and incredibly fresh taste.

 

*Top 4 South African Pinot Grigio wines to try: Terra Del Capo Pinot Grigio 2021, Craven Pinot Gris 2021, Idiom Pinot Grigio 2020, Secret Cellar (ZA) Pinot Grigio 2021

 

Wine Pairings with Calamari

Due to Calamari’s largely neutral flavor, it pairs well with almost any wine. This gives you the enjoyment of pairing it with whatever wine you desire. Anything works, from fragrant white wines to robust red wines. Everything depends on your personal preferences.

Light to medium-bodied red wines, like merlot, go exceptionally well with grilled Calamari, but a glass of sparkling wine will, of course, cut through practically anything and complement it excellently. If in doubt, go with sparkly.

 

Wine Pairings with Steak and Shrimp

This is a challenging dish to pair because a steak pairs wonderfully with a full-bodied red wine, while shrimp normally goes well with a full-bodied white wine like a Chardonnay. The taste of your shrimp could be seriously harmed by the tannins in a full-bodied red, which could overshadow them and generally make the dish unpleasant. If you prefer red wine, choose a light-bodied red wine at the lower end of the tannin range.

A glass of white wine might not have the ability to balance the flavors of the fish and the steak, as it doesn’t necessarily cut through the powerful meaty flavors.

So, which option to choose? Pair a Surf & Turf meal with a dry MCC or sparkling wine.

Wine Pairings with Snoek

An iconic Cape tradition is snoek on the braai. The crispy, salty fish is frequently served with apricot and butter, which gives it a sweet and decadent finish. The mild fruitiness of white wine, such as the Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve White is suggested, as it pairs well with the apricot flavors and the delicate richness of braaied snoek is brought out by the oak finish's creaminess.

Secondly, Sauvignon Blanc was developed to go well with any fish meal and is an absolute necessity if you are thinking about having snoek on the braai.

Wine Pairings with Prawns

 Chenin Blanc - the Chenin Blanc grape is the most extensively cultivated variety in South Africa. It tastes and smells fruity, vibrant, and refreshing. Granny Smith apple, green plum, lime, and more strong notes of ripe stone, tropical fruit, melon, and clementine are among its flavor notes. Additionally, this wine has a vibrant herbaceous or flowery flavor. All types of fresh seafood, such as prawn, crab, smoked salmon or trout, and light seafood pasta dishes go well with the fresh, crisp Chenin Blanc.

*Top 4 South African Chenin Blanc wines to try: Ken Forrester The FMC Chenin Blanc 2020, Cederberg Five Generations Chenin Blanc 2020, Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2020, Remhoogte Honeybunch Reserve Chenin Blanc 2021

Final Thoughts

Given the wide variety of seafood and wines available, pairing wine with seafood is a challenging topic. Just remember that a crisp white grape varietal and Sauvignon Blanc are generally great picks for all occasions when serving seafood.

The most important factor is that YOU enjoy the different combinations. There are no wrong choices when it comes to food and wine pairing, so choose what you like and just have fun.

 

A braai is so much more than a barbeque. A true South African braai is a way of life where this authentic tradition focuses on bringing family and friends together, sharing unforgettable moments while enjoying food perfected on the open fire.

This guide will take you through everything you need to know about a braai; from the perfect time to start, what type of food can be prepared on it and the various methods of braaing.

Heritage day is around the corner, host the perfect braai experience with only this guide.

Get Fire'd Up!

A braai is nothing without the fire! Hard woods, such as Kameeldoring- or Sekelbos braai wood, are the finest sorts to use for a braai. These braai wood is a South- African favourite since it gives your braai meat more flavour and aroma where you can taste the fire in your food. Very important: never touch the braai master’s braai!

The Braai Master is the one person that takes care of the meat and who’s in charge of maintaining the fire to guarantee that everything is cooked to perfection. It's a tradition to keep the fire blazing late into the evening after all the food has been prepared while everyone get together to enjoy a cool beverage. Nothing brings family and friends together than a fire after a braai.

Braai Time!

Rain, wind or shine, whether its breakfast, lunch or supper- we braai! To a South African, there’s never a wrong time to braai. Braais are more common at big events and getaways, such as weddings, birthdays or on the family camping trip.

From waking up at your campsite and making your freshly brewed coffee on the braai, to preparing a quick drunken midnights snack after a night out, it is always the perfect time to have a braai!

At LK’s, we strive to deliver quality braais and braai accessories where you can pack your braai along for any road trip. Wide or narrow, big or compact, we’ve got the braai for you.

Braai Place!

The fact that the earliest evidence of man and fire was found in South Africa, it is no secret that South Africa is the braai-nation! South Africans will always find a place to light their fires, no matter where they are.

We have the freedom of experiencing a braai with a view, at parks and picnic spots or in the comfort of our homes. Although there are many different locations to enjoy a braai, most beaches forbid cooking food on an open fire. Always remember to braai responsibly.

Lekker Braai Food!

There’s just nothing like a delicious food made on the braai! There’s no limit as South Africans will braai anything and everything while leaving it packed with all kinds of traditional flavours. You’ll always leave a braai with a full stomach and a few leftover dishes for the next day.

Here are the most popular and most-enjoyed food you’ll expect to eat at a braai:

• Sosaties - very similar to kebabs, where meat is marinated in a sauce and cubed on the skewer with various other ingredients, such as peppers, onions and pineapple. These sosaties are then cooked on a braai and can be served as a side dish or mostly enjoyed as a braai snack. You can experiment and use any meat on your sosatie, but most popular meats are lamb, beef or chicken.

LK’s Kebab Grill Set-  makes braaing sosaties easier.

You need to try this delicious kebab recipe at your next braai: Sticky Pineapple and Chicken Kebab.

• Boerewors - A braai is not a braai without a boerewors. This South African-born sausage is pronounced "boo-ruh-vors". A proper boerewors must consist of 90% meat, made from mainly beef and a mixture of lamb and pork. One thing that makes boerewors different than a normal sausage, is that it greatly consists out of meat with a significant use of spices that South Africans truly enjoy. It’s a very versatile dish as it can be enjoyed on its own, on a bun (boerewors roll), as a complement to another dish (chakalaka, pap en wors) or dried out (droëwors).

Make braaing boerewors a breeze with LK’s Boerewors Grid (available in Stainless Steel, Mild Steel and Chrome).

• Marinated meats – Whether it’s chicken, pork or lamb that’s prepared in a delicious marinade and topped off with a homemade mushroom- or cheese sauce, these meats are an all-time-favourite braai dish.
• Steaks – South Africans know what cut of steak they like- fillet for the tenderness, rump for the taste, and rib-eye for a great all-rounder. A steak is a great addition to any braai, just bring along your favourite steak cut and trust the braai master to do the rest.
• Kreef & Snoek – A perfectly smoked or braaid snoek where you can taste the South African coast will be on the menu at a braai close to the beach. A kreef (a spiny lobster), snoek (mackerel) and paella are popular choices.

Got the snoek, but looking for a grid? View our various snoek grids (available in Stainless Steel, mild steel and chrome).

Prepare this Cape famous Masala Snoek Recipe on the braai.

• Biltong – When you think about the ultimate South African snack, biltong will be at the top of the list for many. Similar to beef jerky, biltong is made from a variety of dried meat, such as beef, ostrich, kudu, springbok, and others. Additionally, biltong is produced differently from beef jerky, which leaves it with a softer and fluffier texture.

Have you ever attempted to make your own biltong or droëwors? Use LK’s Biltong Maker.

• Pap – In South Africa, pap is also called mieliepap, which is maize porridge that’s traditionally enjoyed with marinated meats or as a side dish at a braai.
• Braaibroodijie – You’ll never find a braai without a braaibroodjie. To make one of these, you simply take two slices of bread, add a few strings of sliced onion, sliced tomato, grated cheese and chutney sauce; and let it toast for 5 min per side.

Get Braaing!

The biggest tradition in South Africa is the braai, so much so that we have a day designated as braai day, every year—Heritage Day! Although we as the rainbow nation may have very varied racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds, a traditional South African braai unifies us all.

This guide should give you everything you need to host a "lekker" (wonderful) braai if you ever find yourself in South Africa or want to try braaing over open flames.

5. Coal Scoop

Every braai master has a LK’s Coal Scoop, whether you want to add more coals under your potjie/meat or clean your braai afterwards. You can simply hang the scoop as it’s complete with a hanging loop for easier storage.

6. Potjie

Braai + Potjie= a proud South African tradition!

To make a delicious potjie at a braai with all kinds of traditional flavours, you’ll need a long-lasting pot that can withstand any heat temperature! Whether you want to make fresh homemade bread, stew or pudding on the braai, we’ve got the potjie for you- available in different shapes and sizes.

Explore our different cast iron and enamelled cookware below:

Cast Iron: https://lks.co.za/cast-iron/

Enameled Cast Iron: https://lks.co.za/enamel-products/.

7. Grids

What is a braai without the grid? Braaing snoek, mielies or need both your hands to pack food on the grid? LK’s has got a grid for every need. We’ve got a hands-free grid where you free up both your hands as the grid lid locks in and stays open so you can braai like a true braai master!

Explore our extensive range of grids here: https://lks.co.za/braai-grids/.

8. Grid brush & Grid Cleaning spray

There’s nothing worse than wanting to braai and realizing the grid hasn’t been cleaned from the previous week’s braai! Now, cleaning your grid has never been easier- simply spray and scrub all the dirt from the grid and have it spotless for the next braai.

Braai and Grill Cleaner: https://lks.co.za/product/braai-and-grill-cleaner/

Wire Grill Brush: https://lks.co.za/product/105-54-wire-grill-brush/

 

9. Braai Wipes

Introducing LK’s Braai Wipes! These all-purpose hygiene cleaning wipes is perfect to clean your hands after touching fatty meat and your sticky braai tools.

Final Thought

Now that you’ve got all your braai essentials, you’ll need to know how to host the best braai for family and friends. Our ULTIMATE SOUTH AFRICAN BRAAI GUIDE will take you through everything you need to know, from the best types of wood to use to the best time to braai.

You’re now ready to have the best braai ever!

All the products mentioned in this blog is available at your nearest LK’s stockist. Where are you situated? Contact info@lks.co.za and we’ll refer you!

We as saffas love to braai, it is in our nature- but there are always some risks involved when you cook over the open fire. While a braai is a fun experience where the entire family get-together after a long week, but it’s all too easy to get distracted.

Therefore, we have put together an entire list of braai safety tips for your next braai.

When you are using a charcoal braai, ensure that you apply the following safety tips:

• If your clothing catches fire, STOP, DROP AND ROLL!
• Ensure that you have something close by to douse your fire if needed, such as a fire extinguisher or bucket of water or sand.
• Use braai equipment, such as LK’s Stainless Steel Silicone Tongs to safely operate the food on the grid without getting burnt. Refrain from using kitchen utensils to move food as you’ll burn yourself.

Note: The longer the braai equipment, the better!

• To safely move burning firewood, without getting splinters or yourself burnt, use LK’s Extra Long Stompie Tongs.
• Never allow or leave kids and pets to play unsupervised near a hot braai. Accidents happen in an instant!
• Never move or leave a lit braai unattended.
• Use LK’s High Heat BBQ Glove and Braai Apron at all times when working at the braai.
• Use LK’s Potjie Lid Knob and LK’s Potjie Lid Stand to lift and rest your steaming potjie lid, which will allow you to free up both your hands.
• To avoid burning your face when blowing the coals to start the fire, use LK’s Braai Fan or Plastic Fire Fan to effortlessly get your fire going.
• To light the substance for your fire, use LK’s Gas Lighter. This will eliminate any chance of your hands burning.

Note: When lighting a braai, ensure the wind is blowing away from you, NOT towards you.

• To avoid flare-ups, always try to keep your braai and braai grid clean. Use LK’s Grid Cleaning Kit before and after each braai.
• NEVER ever use a flammable accelerant, such as petrol, oil, or paraffin to speed up the firing process for your braai. Closely stick to ONLY using briquettes/charcoal or LK’s Firelighters.
• Always keep emergency numbers nearby in case of a fire. Emergency number: City’s Regional Fire Control of Cape Town No: (021) 590 1900. You can also immediately call 10111 and ask for the fire brigade.
• Always set your braai up on a flat and smooth surface, far from fences, trees, overhanging plants or wood.
• Keep all flammable objects away from the braai, especially when having a braai outdoors as the wind can change direction and blow embers in a second.
• Don’t bury glowing coals in the soil, as they may seem “out” but are still glowing on the interior. Always ensure to douse coals with water to be absolutely certain they’re dead.
• Never scoop ashes straight from the braai into a dustbin or wheelie bin. If coals are even slightly hot, they’ll melt the plastic in an instant and cause a major fire.
• In the case of a serious grease flare-up, NEVER try to extinguish it with water as it will spread and flare up more. Always have a fire extinguisher nearby.

 

Did you know?

A grease fire occurs when your cooking oil becomes too hot. Heating oil occurs in phases.
Phase 1: The oil will first start to boil.
Phase 2: The oil will start to smoke.
Phase 3: The oil will catch on fire!

 

When you are using a gas braai, ensure that you apply the following safety tips:

• Always check that all the components of the gas braai are in good working order and undamaged. Hoses need to be attached properly to avoid any gas leakage.
• Repair any damaged components or buy replacement parts at your nearest LK’S stockist, before using the gas braai.
• Don’t over-tighten joints, as it will deform the tubes and create cracks and gaps where the fluid will start to leak out.
• When changing gas cylinders, make sure the gas taps are properly turned off and that you do this in an open, well-ventilated area. Avoid doing it in the house and around your kids and pets.
• Never take your gas stove or gas heater in a tent, cabin or caravan if you are braaing on a cool evening and want to warm up the cabin. Braais and gas braais give off fumes even after use and should be left outside as it may cause serious health issues.
• Always read instructions carefully about checking leaks and gas escapes from your gas hoses.

Note: If your gas braai does not come with a manufacturer’s instructions on how to check for gas leaks, then you can simply gather soap and water mixture and pour it over the suspected leak areas. If bubbles form, then there is a leak.

Whether your mom loves cooking in the kitchen or enjoys taking charge of the braai; LK’s Red Enamel Potjie is the perfect addition to every braai mom’s accessories. Pots available in green, red and blue enamel. This dazzling potjie has a non-stick surface that allows for a fun braai experience.

View our large range of enamel pots here.