The Best Braai Salads and Sides For Entertaining
*Updated in March 2020
So, you have the showstopper meaty braai main in the bag from our list of best braai recipes, now all you need is a couple of amazing sides to go with it. Here are our best braai salads and sides for your next gathering around the coals.
Best Braai Salads
Toasted Panzanella Salad with Burrata and Thyme Vinaigrette
This fresh and tasty salad is super easy to whip up and perfect as a side for any summertime lunch.
Recipe for Toasted Panzanella Salad with Burrata and Thyme Vinaigrette
Southwestern Potato Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
A wholesome South-Western-style roasted potato salad with a homemade honey-mustard dressing. The perfect side dish for your next braai.
Recipe for Southwestern Potato Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
Beetroot Quinoa Salad with Butternut, Feta and Rocket
We’ve used 100% beetroot juice to prepare the quinoa. Not only does it give it a fabulous jewel-like colour but enhances the whole dish with the earthy flavour of delicious beets
Recipe for Beetroot Quinoa Salad with Butternut, Feta and Rocket
Basil Pesto, Pea, Pine Nut and Pecorino Pasta Salad
Everyone loves a pasta salad but they can often be heavy with mayo-style dressings. This one lightens things up with flavoursome pesto and fresh greens.
Recipe for Basil Pesto, Pea, Pine Nut and Pecorino Pasta Salad
Chargrilled Spring Onion, Pea and Asparagus Salad with Jalapeno Dressing
Tons of fresh flavours, charry edges and peppery bite. No more tossing of the green bits of your spring onions – that’s where the flavour’s at!
Get the recipe for this Chargrilled Spring Onion, Pea and Asparagus Salad
Grilled Aubergine with Tomato Rocket and Goats Cheese
Individual servings of charry aubergine and fragrant, earthy salad. An easy and unique way to serve a tasty take on salad.
Get the recipe for this Grilled Aubergine with Tomato, Rocket and Goats Cheese
Classic Tabbouleh Salad
If your a lover of tomatoes, then this salad is for you. The tabbouleh is served with a velvety rich tomato dressing that will have you licking the bowl!
Get the recipe for Classic Tabbouleh Salad
Crudité Salad with Hummus & Cracked Chickpeas
Flex your artistic skills to arrange the veggies and make these simple ingredients look amazing.
Get the recipe for this Crudité Salad
Watermelon & Labneh Salad
Nothing says summer in South Africa like watermelon. This salad is the perfect side to a braai and brings a fresh sweetness that complements grilled meat.
Get the Recipe for Watermelon & Labneh Salad
Charred Watermelon & Bocconcini Salad With Honey & Mustard Dressing
Watermelon is the quintessential summer ingredient and charring only intensifies its flavour. Pair this salad with a rich rib-eye steak or lamb chops.
Get the recipe for Charred Watermelon & Bocconcini Salad
Summer Beetroot Salad With Herby Pesto
Don’t just put the pickled beet jar on the table, instead make this super easy and delicious summer beetroot salad. It goes well with smokey braai flavours.
Get the Recipe for this Summer Beetroot Salad
Roast Butternut & Quinoa Salad with Nuts & Seeds
Quinoa really is a miracle pseudo-grain, it’s high in protein and naturally gluten-free. This salad combines earthy flavours of butternut, it’ll go perfectly with a spatchcock chicken.
Get the Recipe for Roasted Butternut & Quinoa Salad
Broccoli, Apple & Walnut Salad
Get them greens in with this salad, served with a zingy-zesty yoghurt dressing. This will go well with some charred potatoes and grilled smokey chicken.
Get the recipe for this Broccoli, Apple & Walnut Salad
Melanzane Parmigiana Salad
Okay, so this salad is more Italian than South African, but it goes so well with rich SA dishes like skilpadjies we couldn’t bear to leave it off. A great braai salad that brings two cultures together.
Get the recipe for this Melanzane Parmigiana Salad
Fresh Green Slaw
Sweet and tangy apples give this slaw its summeriness, pair with a whole grilled fish.
Get the recipe for this Fresh Green Slaw
Pepper and Pomegranate Salad
This has to be one of our best braai salads – ideal for summer and full of the flavour of roasted peppers.
Get the recipe for this Pepper and Pomegranate Salad
Beetroot, Chevin & Hazelnut Salad
A fresh and tasty salad, with pomegranate dressing that will have all your guests asking you for the recipe, which you can get right here.
Get the recipe for this Beetroot, Chevin & Hazelnut Salad
The Heritage Salad
This salad is a culinary celebration of our South African heritage.
Get the Recipe for this Heritage Salad
Warm Quinoa Salad With Roasted Cauliflower And Chickpeas Served With A Spicy Citrus Dressing
A perfect braai side that is not only incredibly healthy and filled with antioxidants but also wonderfully fresh and delicious. The spicy citrus dish elevates the dish to a whole other level.
Charred Broccoli And Baby Gem Salad
A refreshing salad that is filled with all those good nutrients! It’s best if the greens get good char on them, so use a griddle pan if you can.
Potatoes
As good as a plain potato chucked on the open fire is, up your potato game with these tasty and easy recipes.
MUSTARD CREAM VERTICAL POTATO BAKE
This is traditional potato bake version 2.0. Get the best of both worlds with a crunchy top and creamy bottom.
Get the recipe for this Mustard Cream Potato Bake
Thyme Brown Butter Potato Bake
The perfect potato side to pair with a meaty dish.
Get the recipe for this Thyme Bown Butter Potato Cake
Blackened Charred Potatoes
Haven’t you heard? Black is all the rage, so char these bad boys to black perfection.
Get the recipe for these Blackened Charred Potatoes
Sweet Potato Wedges Wrapped In Bacon
It doesn’t get any sweeter than this.
Recipe for these Sweet Potato Wedges Wrapped in Bacon
Gruyere & Chive Potato Skin
Crispy potato skins stuffed with potato, cream cheese, and cheese. Worth every calorie.
Get the recipe for these Gruyere & Chive Potato Skins
Potato Gratin
No braai would be complete without a side dish of potato bake, it’s the ultimate bring and braai dish.
Get the recipe for this Potato Gratin
4 Variations on Potato Salad
No braai salads and sides buffet table would be complete without a potato salad. If you’re looking to give a little wow factor, this is a must try recipe. Also, don’t buy your mayo – make it, it’s so easy with this homemade mayonnaise recipe. Got a vegan guest? Don’t panic, make this vegan mayonnaise.
Get the recipe for these 4 variations on Potato Salad
Hasselback Potatoes
This way of preparing potatoes is a classic for a reason – so tasty!
Get the recipe for these Hasselback Potatoes
Bread
So you’ve sorted your braai salads but what about sides. We know bread has a bad rap, but really what meal isn’t made better with bread?
Bacon, Cheese and Chive Cornbread
Bacon and corn have always been good mates and this bacon cornbread is set to become your new best friend.
Recipe for Bacon, Cheese and Chive Cornbread
Cheesy, Pull-Apart Bread with Bovril Drizzle
If you’re a fan of Bovril and cheese toast, then you’ve met the bread of your dreams. A cheesy, savoury pull-apart bread that will be an instant hit!
Recipe for Cheesy, Pull-Apart Bread with Bovril Drizzle
Tomato, Olive and Basil Pesto Foccacia
Good bread takes time but one bite of this focaccia makes it all worth it. We guarantee this will be flattened in minutes.
Get the recipe for this Tomato, Olive and Basil Pesto Foccacia
Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Ale Beer Bread
Lather with butter and a sliver of vleis, wash down with an ice cold one.
Get the recipe for this Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Ale Beer Bread
Rosemary & Roasted Garlic Bread
It wouldn’t be a braai without some kind of garlic bread in the vicinity.
Get the recipe for Rosemary & Roasted Garlic Bread
Caramelised Onion, Sage & Mature Cheddar Bread Rolls
Set aside some time to make these rolls, you’ll never buy from the store again.
Get the recipe for Caramelised Onion, Sage & Mature Cheddar Bread Rolls
Veggies
Curried Green Beans
A Cape Malay favourite, these sweet, spicy and tangy stems are great for cutting through rich meats. Chop them and dust over some grated parmesan for a bit of pizazz.
Get the recipe for these Curried Green Beans
Harissa Glazed Carrots
Harissa and carrots are a match made in food heaven; this is a great side for spicing up plain grilled chicken or steak.
Get the recipe for these Harissa Glazed Carrots
Roasted Garlic With Basil & Thyme
Cooked garlic is the shizz-niz. Slice them and leave on the grill to caramelise to a golden nugget. Rub over bread, mash into dips or eat as is. Either way, you’re in business!
Get the recipe for this Garlic With Basil & Thyme
Roasted Butternut & Cauliflower Salad
A fresh and earthy salad, the perfect braai side.
Get the recipe for this Roasted Butternut & Cauliflower Salad
Stuffed Peppers
A vegetable braai side with an unexpected twist! A great way of combining protein, starch and veggies in one simple serving.
Elotes, Mexican-Style Grilled Corn
Mielies are a staple for every braai, why not change it up and serve a delicious Mexican chargrilled version.
Blooming Onion With Horseradish Mayo
Although this might be more of an American dish, why not incorporate this classic into your braai. Let’s be honest, anything that is deep fried is delicious but this blooming onion takes it to a whole other level.
Roasted Baby Aubergines With Lentils Pomegranate Chevin Dressing
Such a fresh and simple side to whip up that is packed with incredible punchy flavours. A healthy dish to balance out all other indulging braai sides.
Recipe For Aubergines With Lentils
If you haven’t found that amazing main dish yet to go with your best braai salads and sides, check out our favourite braai recipes.
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