This week I was taken on a culinary braai adventure from Soweto to the Tsitsikamma Forest, the one-horse towns of Hogsback and Villiersdorp and even some beach roads such as the Wild Coast and Sodwana Bay.
This week I was taken on a culinary braai adventure from Soweto to the Tsitsikamma Forest, the one-horse towns of Hogsback and Villiersdorp and even some beach roads such as the Wild Coast and Sodwana Bay.
This escapade took place in the comfort of my home where I had the opportunity to produce the perfect lamb chops, southern-style slaw, hassleback spuds and create cherished memories with friends.
After all, that is what the South African braai is about.
Based on the second season of reality TV series Ultimate Braai Master, Roads Less Travelled is a collection of some of the most sizzling dishes made by the season’s contestants.
Presented alongside recipes by Justin Bonello, Bertus Basson and Marthinus Ferreira and written by Helen Lombard, this cook book takes the reader on a unique adventure about the togetherness inherent in the South African pastime of braaiing.
Braaiing is celebrated in the form of incredibly enticing photography matched with adventurous dialogue and easy-to-follow recipes, which are written with an engaging and witty sense of humour.
I followed the instructions for Bonello’s perfect lamb chop and was awarded the occasion of, as he says, "helping one lamb-chop-loving friend at a time".
Bonello doesn’t believe in marinating his lamp chops.
He says if you get proper Karoo meat then the lambs have marinated themselves on fragrant Karoo bossies already.
We got our chops from a local farmer and the natural flavours combined with the rosemary skewers created a delicious combination. What a tasty treat!
Bonello’s southern-style slaw offered my guests a refreshing and crunchy bite to accompany the braai meat. I even made my own mayonnaise which gave it even more home-made flavour.
He suggests wannabe braai masters serve this coleslaw with the peri-peri spatchcock chicken and fried bread recipes also in the book.
Roads Less Travelled also gives readers a variety of facts about venues and areas where cook-offs took place.
Recipes include venison, fish and desserts – a great one being the wet chocolate cake mugs on page 148.
I highly recommend this book as a Christmas present.
To find out more, visit the Penguin Books SA website.
Roads Less Travelled: The Ultimate Braai Master (Second Season)
Authors: Justin Bonello with Bertus Basson & Marthinus Ferreira, written by Helena Lombard
Published by Penguin Books (November 2013)
ISBN: 9780143538516
Price: R230
Rating: 4.7/5
Non-Fiction
Follow me on twitter @cohensarah – I’ll be sharing my festive season braai treats from this book.
