If you’ve already heard about our new Apex Series 6 Burner Gourmet Plus Patio Gas Braai With Searing Side Burner, you’re most probably itching to try out its dynamic Gourmet Cooking System. Whether you’ve already got one of these versatile gas braais at home or you’re planning to buy one soon, we’ve rounded up some delicious braai recipes as culinary inspiration for you.
The recipe options are endless as you can pretty much cook anything on the Gourmet Plus. But to get you started, we’ve chosen specific dishes that showcase the Gourmet’s ability to transform your braai into different types of cooking equipment.
Your Gourmet Plus As a Pro Kitchen
Thanks to the braai’s Gourmet Plus Cooking System, you can cook multiple dishes in multiple ways – all at the same time. Barry likes boerewors rolls with chakalaka, while Sally prefers healthy salmon and veggies? No problem. You can even bake the rolls for Barry (see below).
You can use the griddle pan to fry the boerewors, or cook the sausage directly over the flame on the right-hand side of the braai. Meanwhile, cook up a sauce or gravy using the searing side burner and heat up fresh rolls on the warming rack. Sally’s salmon can also be cooked on the griddle pan, giving the fish those appealing sear marks.
Braai Recipes to Try
- Raita sambal boerewors rolls: a decadent twist on the humble boerie.
- Salmon with asparagus: includes healthy homemade tartar sauce.
Your Gourmet Plus As an Oven
Baking bread in a braai? Simply preheat your Gourmet Plus Gas Braai to 180°C, close the lid and bake just as you would in an oven for around 45 minutes. The Gourmet Plus comes equipped with a built-in thermometer so you can monitor the temperature. To test if your bread is done, insert a kebab stick. If it comes out clean, your bread is ready.
Braai Recipes to Try
- Baking powder bread: you can easily jazz up this recipe by adding seeds, nuts and even bacon.
- Creamy milk tart pot bread: a sweet recipe for dessert.
Your Gourmet Plus As a Frying Pan
It’s summer holidays and you’ve woken up to hungry in-laws, fussy kids and birds chirping. Join the birds in the garden and fry up a masterpiece English breakfast that’ll satisfy the entire family. The Gourmet Plus Cooking System features a flat pan with a surface that’s pretty much like a frying pan. It’s made with a raised edge to keep juices, sauces and oil inside the pan while sautéing. Perfect for eggs, bacon, onions, mushrooms and flapjacks.
Best of all, it’s super easy to clean and dishwasher friendly so there’ll be no complaining when dinnertime rolls around and you need to use the same pan for your signature stroganoff.
Braai Recipes to Try
- Eggs, mushrooms, pork sausage and bacon-wrapped asparagus: close the lid of the braai to make sure your eggs are cooked perfectly for Mom-in-law.
- Flavourful flapjacks: the kids will love you.
Your Gourmet Plus As a Smoker
Here’s where you can really start to experiment with technique and flavour. There are different ways to smoke, depending on how much time you have at your disposal. For maximum flavour, soak your wood chips in water or wine for 30 minutes before you begin braaing.
If time isn’t on your side, you can go ahead with dry wood chips. You can also speed things up further by sealing your meat on the searing side burner or partially cooking it on the right side of the braai first.
To start smoking, fill the flat pan with the wood chips. Slot the Gourmet Cooking System’s grid on top of the pan – you’ll notice it has designated holes to keep it in place. Place a whole chicken – or whatever you plan to smoke - on top of the grid and close the lid to start smoking.
Braai Recipes to Try
- Luyanda Mafanya’s smoked cola short ribs: the private chef and food blogger created this sweet and smoky rib dish for us.
- Smoked brisket: slow-smoked for juicy and tender results, this one requires plenty of cooking time.
Ready to upgrade your braai to a Gourmet Plus? Check out our online shop.
NOTE: The product will be available to purchase online and in store from end of October 2021.