7 Delicious Braai Side Dishes to Serve With Your Meat

Braai side dishes can turn a good South African braai into a meal everyone remembers. Meat usually takes centre stage, but the sides bring different textures and flavours to the table. Ingredients include farm bread, mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes, cheese, eggs, homemade jams and preserves. These ingredients can easily become something more interesting than a basic green salad. From creamy potato bake to stuffed mushrooms, these recipes give you seven options for your next weekend braai.

1. Creamy Mushroom and Onion Potato Bake

Serves: 6
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Bake Time: 50–60 minutes

Ingredients
1 kg potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
250 g mushrooms, sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup cream
½ cup grated cheese
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and black pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme

Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a large baking dish.
Melt the butter in a frying pan and cook the onion until soft.
Add the mushrooms and garlic, then cook for five minutes.
Arrange half the potatoes across the baking dish.
Season with salt, pepper and thyme, then spread half the mushroom mixture over them.
Repeat with the remaining potatoes and mushrooms.
Pour the cream evenly over the potatoes and cover with grated cheese.
Bake covered with foil for 35 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for another 15–25 minutes until golden and tender.
The result is rich enough to stand beside steak, chops or boerewors without needing another complicated side.

2. Grilled Stuffed Mushrooms With Cheese

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 10–15 minutes

Ingredients
8 large mushrooms
½ onion, finely chopped
1 tomato, finely diced
½ cup grated cheese
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper

Method
Remove the mushroom stems and chop them finely.
Heat the olive oil in a pan and cook the onion and chopped stems for three minutes.
Add the tomato and cook for another two minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the cream cheese and parsley.
Season with salt and pepper.
Spoon the mixture into the mushroom caps and sprinkle cheese over each one.
Place the mushrooms on a braai grid over medium heat.
Cook for 10–15 minutes until tender and the cheese has melted.
Keep the heat moderate so the mushrooms soften without burning underneath.

3. Braai-Roasted Vegetable and Feta Salad

Serves: 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 25–30 minutes

Ingredients
2 red peppers
2 yellow peppers
2 tomatoes
1 red onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
100 g feta cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
Salt and black pepper

Method
Cut the peppers, tomatoes and onion into large pieces.
Place them on a baking tray and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.
Roast at 200°C for 25–30 minutes until softened and lightly browned.
Mix the lemon juice and honey in a small bowl.
Allow the vegetables to cool slightly, then arrange them on a serving plate.
Crumble the feta over the vegetables and drizzle with the dressing.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
The salad can be prepared before guests arrive, leaving you free to concentrate on the braai.

4. Homemade Bread and Cheese Braai Bake

Serves: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 25–30 minutes

Ingredients
6 thick slices of farm bread
3 free-range eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup grated cheese
½ onion, finely chopped
½ cup sliced mushrooms
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and pepper

Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a baking dish.
Butter the bread and arrange the slices in the dish.
Cook the onion and mushrooms in a pan until softened.
Whisk the eggs and milk together, then season with salt and pepper.
Scatter the mushrooms and onion over the bread.
Pour the egg mixture evenly over everything.
Finish with grated cheese.
Leave it for five minutes so the bread can absorb some of the mixture.
Bake for 25–30 minutes until the centre has set, and the cheese is golden.

5. Twice-Baked Potatoes With Cheese and Spring Onion

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 60–70 minutes

Ingredients
4 large potatoes
½ cup grated cheese
¼ cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 spring onions, finely sliced
Salt and pepper
½ teaspoon paprika

Method
Bake the potatoes at 200°C for 45–50 minutes until tender.
Allow them to cool enough to handle safely.
Cut each potato in half and scoop the flesh into a bowl.
Keep the skins intact for filling later.
Mash the potato with butter and milk until smooth.
Stir in the cheese and spring onions, then season with salt, pepper and paprika.
Spoon the mixture back into the potato skins.
Place them on a baking tray and sprinkle extra cheese over the top.
Bake for another 15–20 minutes until golden.
These are best served straight from the oven while the filling is still creamy.

6. Caramelised Onion and Tomato Tart

Serves: 6
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Bake Time: 35–40 minutes

Ingredients
1 sheet puff pastry
3 onions, thinly sliced
2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon honey
½ cup grated cheese
1 egg, beaten
Salt and pepper

Method
Preheat the oven to 190°C.
Melt the butter in a pan and cook the onions over low heat for 15 minutes.
Stir in the honey and cook for another two minutes.
Place the puff pastry onto a lined baking tray.
Spread the onions across the pastry, leaving a small border around the edge.
Arrange the tomato slices over the onions.
Season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with cheese.
Brush the pastry border with beaten egg.
Bake for 35–40 minutes until puffed and golden.
Cut into slices and serve warm or at room temperature.

7. Sweet and Savoury Braai Bread With Homemade Jam

Serves: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 8–10 minutes

Ingredients
6 thick slices of farm bread
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons homemade jam
100 g cheddar cheese, sliced
1 tablespoon honey
Freshly ground black pepper

Method
Spread butter over both sides of the bread.
Toast the bread on the braai grid until lightly crisp.
Place slices of cheddar on top while the bread is still warm.
Add a small spoonful of homemade jam to each slice.
Drizzle lightly with honey and finish with black pepper.
Serve immediately while the cheese is soft.
This combination works particularly well when you want something simple after a plate of grilled meat.

Make the Sides Part of the Braai

Good braai side dishes do not need to compete with the meat. They should give everyone another reason to reach across the table. A creamy potato bake suits a family gathering, while stuffed mushrooms and roasted vegetables work well for a smaller braai. The bread bake and twice-baked potatoes also give you options when you want something filling. These ingredients can help you put these dishes together, including farm bread, mushrooms, cheese, eggs, onions, tomatoes, peppers and homemade jams. Pick your sides according to how much time you want to spend preparing them, then let the fire take care of the main event. For a weekend braai, the braai side dishes are often what people keep talking about after the last piece of meat has disappeared.Looking for more ideas for your next meal? Explore more recipes from The Orchard Farm Stall and discover simple ways to bring fresh, familiar flavours to your table.