RecipesSouth African 
Grilled Snoek with Apricot Glaze
A West Coast classic — butterflied snoek braai'd with a sweet-tangy apricot glaze.
Ingredients
- 1 whole snoek, butterflied
- ½ cup apricot jam
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp butter, melted
- Salt & pepper
- Optional: chopped chilli, ginger, or soy sauce
Method
- 1
Mix apricot jam, lemon juice, garlic, melted butter, salt, and pepper.
- 2
Pat fish dry. Brush lightly with oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- 3
Place snoek skin-side down over medium coals. Close lid if using kettle braai.
- 4
Brush apricot glaze onto snoek during the last 5–10 minutes. Do NOT turn the fish.
- 5
Serve hot with bread, salads, or pap.
Swaps & variations
- Replace snoek with yellowtail or mackerel
- Use honey instead of apricot jam
- Add peri-peri for spicy glaze
- Add fresh herbs like thyme or coriander
Storing & freezing
Cooked snoek keeps 2–3 days in the fridge. Freeze raw snoek up to 2 months. Apricot glaze freezes well.
Grow it yourself
- Apricots: Thrive in hot dry summers and cold winters; plant in winter; full sun; prune annually; mulch
- Lemons: Evergreen sun-loving citrus; feed regularly; protect from frost
- Garlic: Plant in winter; harvest mid-summer; well-drained soil
- Thyme: Thrives in hot dry areas; Coriander: Prefers cool weather
- Use sticky traps for fruit flies on apricot trees
- Citrus trees: treat aphids with soapy water or neem
- Encourage wasps and ladybirds for natural pest control
- Mulch fruit trees to reduce weed competition
- Apricots: Harvest when soft, fragrant, and richly coloured
- Lemons: Pick when fully coloured and heavy
- Garlic: Harvest when lower leaves brown; cure before storage
Want meals like this matched to your goals and preferences?
Build my meal planMore recipes to explore
South AfricanSweet Potato Mash with Chilli ButterCreamy mashed sweet potato topped with a punchy chilli-garlic butter.South AfricanLamb PotjiekosA slow-cooked South African outdoor stew — layered lamb, vegetables, and herbs over gentle coals.South AfricanVegetarian Bunny ChowDurban-inspired street food — a hollowed-out bread loaf filled with fragrant vegetable curry.South AfricanSamp & Beans (Umngqusho)A hearty traditional Xhosa dish of cracked maize and sugar beans — comfort food at its finest.South AfricanButternut SoupA velvety South African favourite — roasted butternut blended with warming spices and cream.South AfricanGreen Bean Salad with Garlic DressingCrisp blanched green beans tossed in a bright garlic-lemon dressing.