Recipes
South Africa

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. 1

    Butter the outside of each bread slice. Layer tomato, onion, cheese, salt, and pepper inside. Add chutney or herbs if desired.

  2. 2

    Use a braai grid to hold sandwiches tightly.

  3. 3

    Cook over medium coals. Turn often until golden and cheese is melted.

  4. 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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