But we also like to indulge in side dishes. The more elaborate, the better right? And, keeping up with the Jones’s menu can be stressful.  

Catering to everyone’s likes and dislikes can be a real headache, so why not put a bunch of vegetables on the table and let your guests build their own veggie sosaties? If it happens that someone does not want vegetables near his braai, don’t worry. Odette believes that you can serve anything inside a gem squash. Whether it’s sweetcorn or couscous. Boil and hollow out your gem squashes and fill it with any ingredient of your choice.

Finally, saving the best for last, we have braai broodjies for dessert. Simply fill your braai broodjie with our delicious suggestions and pop it on the grill.

Veggie sosaties

Ingredients:

red, green and yellow pepper

baby marrows

whole white button mushrooms

mini corn

red onion

peppadews

sosatie sticks

sweet basil

salt and pepper

olive oil

Directions:

1. Wash all the vegetables

2. Chop your peppers, onion and peppadews in chunks. Remember to keep all the vegetable-types separate.

3. Cut the baby marrows and mini corn into large wheels.

4. Display each of the vegetable types in different containers for your guests to build their own sosaties.

5. Baste with olive oil and season with sweet basil, salt and pepper.

6. Put it in the braai for 10-15 minutes

7. Enjoy!

Couscous stuffed gem squashes

Ingredients:

3 large gem squash

Pinch of salt

FOR THE COUSCOUS

3 cups Chicken broth

Salt and black pepper to taste

1½ cup whole-wheat couscous

FOR THE CHICKPEAS:

410 g canned chickpeas, drained, rinsed and dried

3 tbsp olive oil

½ tsp turmeric

½ tsp cumin

Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions: 

1. In a large saucepan, with enough water to cover the gem squash, add a pinch of salt and bring the water to boil.

2. Cut the gem squashes in half and boil them for 10 minutes until tender.

3 While the gem squashes cool down, you can start with the couscous.

4. In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth to boil over high heat.

5. Add salt and pepper. You can add other seasonings like parsley. Vegetables like celery also bring wonderful flavour

6. Remove the broth from the heat after it comes to a boil. Add the couscous to the broth and cover the pan with a lid. Allow the couscous to sit for 10 minutes.

7. Fluff the couscous with a fork

8. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds of the gem squash and dispose of it. After that, scoop out the gem squash and mix it with the couscous in a bowl.

9. Take a breath and make yourself some coffee, because it’s time to start with the chickpeas!

10. Preheat the oven at 180?.

11. Place the chickpeas in a baking dish and toss them in the olive oil, salt and black pepper, turmeric and cumin until well coated.

12. Roast for 15 minutes, give them a stir, and roast them for another 15 minutes until they’re golden and crispy.

13. Stuff the gem squash shells with the couscous mixture and top it with the roasted chickpeas, cranberries, sunflower -and pumpkin seeds.

14 .Serve and enjoy.

3 sweet 'braaibroodjie' recipes

Chocolate and marshmallow

Ingredients:

Margarine

2 slices of bread (white works better for a desert broodjie)

Chocolate spread (the amount will depend on your preference)

3 marshmallows

Directions:

1. Spread margarine on one side of the two bread slices.

2. On the other side without butter, spread the chocolate spread over the one bread slice.

3. Cut the 3 marshmallows in half and put it on the bread slice with chocolate spread.

4. Put the other bread slice on the top with both buttered sides to the outside.

5. Put it on the grill and braai until both sides are golden brown and crispy.

6. Repeat the recipe until you have enough braai broodjies for all your guests and enjoy.

Apple caramel 

Ingredients:

1 can caramel

an apple.

2 slices of bread

margarine

Directions:

1. Spread margarine on one side of the two bread slices.

2. On the other side without butter, spread the caramel d over the one bread slice.

3. Place apple slices.

4. Sprinkle with some cinnamon.

5. Put the other bread slice on the top with both buttered sides to the outside.

6. Put it on the grill and braai until both sides are golden brown and crispy.

7. Repeat the recipe until you have enough braa broodjies for all your guests and enjoy.

Peanut butter banana 

Ingredients:

Peanut butter (the amount you’ll need will depend on your preference)

1 banana

2 slices of bread

margarine

honey

Directions:

1. Spread margarine on one side of the two bread slices.

2. On the other side without butter, spread the peanut butter over the one bread slice.

3. Cut the banana into wheels and spread it over the peanut butter.

4. Add a little bit of honey on top and put the other bread slice on the top with both buttered sides to the outside.

5. Put it on the grill and braai until both sides are golden brown and crispy.

6. Repeat the recipe until you have enough braaibroodjies for all your guests and enjoy.