RecipesSouth African 
Braai Broodjies
Classic South African grilled sandwiches — cheese, tomato, and onion toasted over the coals.
Ingredients
- 8 slices of bread (white or brown)
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- 1 onion, sliced into thin rings
- 1 cup grated cheese (cheddar or gouda)
- Butter for spreading
- Salt & pepper
- Optional: chutney, fresh herbs, jalapeños
Method
- 1
Butter the outside of each bread slice. Layer tomato, onion, cheese, salt, and pepper inside. Add chutney or herbs if desired.
- 2
Use a braai grid to hold sandwiches tightly.
- 3
Cook over medium coals. Turn often until golden and cheese is melted.
- 4
Serve hot as part of a braai spread.
Swaps & variations
- Add chutney for classic sweetness
- Add bacon or ham
- Add sliced avocado (after grilling)
- Add basil or oregano for Mediterranean flavour
Storing & freezing
Best eaten fresh. Keep prepped ingredients refrigerated 2–3 days. Do not freeze assembled sandwiches.
Grow it yourself
- Tomatoes: Full sun, warmth, and rich soil; water deeply; mulch to prevent disease
- Onions: Plant sets early spring or autumn; loosen soil; water regularly
- Basil: Loves warm weather and moist rich soil; Oregano: Thrives in dry soil and full sun
- Basil deters flies and improves tomato flavour
- Marigolds repel nematodes around tomatoes
- Use garlic spray for aphids
- Plant onions near carrots to repel carrot fly
- Tomatoes: Harvest firm and fully red; overripe work well too
- Onions: Pull bulbs when tops fall naturally; cure before storage
- Basil: Harvest regularly to prevent flowering; Oregano: Harvest leaves at any time
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