Wood braais are a popular way of cooking meat outdoors. Here’s a quick guide to setting up and enjoying wood braais:
- Gather Your Materials:
- Wood: Hardwoods like oak, hickory, or indigenous woods such as rooikrans are ideal. Avoid softwoods like pine, as they can produce a lot of smoke and resin.
- Charcoal: Some people use charcoal in addition to or instead of wood for more even heat.
- Firelighters: These can help get your fire going.
- Prepare the Fire:
- Build the Fire: Start with a base of crumpled newspaper or dry kindling. Arrange the wood on top in a teepee or log cabin structure, and light the paper or kindling with a match or lighter.
- Let it Burn Down: Allow the fire to burn until the wood has turned into glowing coals. This usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour. You want a bed of hot coals with a few flames remaining for optimal cooking.
- Set Up the Braai Grid:
- Place the grill or grid over the coals. You may need to adjust the height of the grid depending on how hot the coals are and how quickly you want to cook the food.
- Cook the Meat:
- Seasoning: Rub the meat with salt, pepper, and any other preferred spices or marinades.
- Grilling: Place the meat on the grill. Turn it occasionally to ensure even cooking. Cooking times will vary depending on the type and thickness of the meat.
- Safety and Clean-Up:
- Ensure that the fire is completely out before leaving it unattended. Allow the coals to cool completely before disposing of them.
- Clean the grill after it has cooled down to prevent the buildup of residue.
Wood braais are as much about the experience and socializing as it is about the food, so take your time, enjoy the process, and savor the results!