Question, have you been to a braai where the invite only states ‘chops & dop’? The setup is the same, from Pretoria, Phalaborwa to the West Coast. Everyone always brings a little more than what they plan on eating - resulting in a massive silver roasting tray filled to the brim with meat.
The get together can go one of two ways; either you eat at a reasonable time, or you don’t. If you’re part of the latter, then the men probably added another log to the fire – nightmare! We have the solution, one that’s not new or revolutionary. But one that really should be made more often. A braai tapas platter!
What is a braai tapas platter?
A braai tapas platter or a traditional ‘plankie braai’ as you would say in Afrikaans, refers to braaiing everyone’s meat at once. As it’s ready, slicing in pieces and serving it on a wooden plate immediately from the fire. There are many occasions that platters really are the best option to go for, cheese boards, mezze platters, finger foods, tapas, etc. It’s the art of arranging different pieces of food on a platter or wooden board for everyone to share.
How to make your first braai tapas platter
You need a good game plan before you start. A structure to your platter so everyone’s taste buds are tingling, and bellies satisfied. We promise, with this recipe to success, you can make any platter in any theme a hit!
Master the platter structure
- Protein: Choose 2-3 proteins.
- Fruit and vegetables: Choose 2 of each, depending on the course of your platter.
- Cheese: Choose 3 different cheeses, a combination of soft and hard cheese.
- Pickles: Choose 3 pickles like gherkins, olives, artichokes, peppadews, etc.
- Sauces or dips: Choose 2 sauces to compliment your protein or cheese.
- Starch: Choose 2 starches.
Give it a theme
Choose a theme. It is important to place complimentary ingredients together for the flavours to infuse. Imagine putting a hummus dip right next to your braaied chocolate-filled puff pastry jaffle pieces. You don’t want one ingredient to mash with another and make it unappetizing.
Choose a country. Different countries and cultures have very distinct flavour profiles. From Greek inspired tzatziki, falafel, olives, pita bread and small meatballs. Mediterranean inspired hummus and baba ganoush, yoghurt dips, flat bread, feta, and lamb skewers. Mexican inspired braaied tacos, jalapeno poppers, bite-size quesadillas, guacamole dip, tortilla chips, charred corn ribs and mini burritos.
Choose a course. Decide beforehand if you’re serving your braai tapas platter as an appetizer, main or dessert. The course can determine the amount of food, as well as the type of food on your platter. An appetizer should be something light, just a little nibble. If your platter is for mains, include bigger pieces of meat and a dessert platter can be anything from dessert braai pie pieces, to braaied peaches or even a brownie baked on the braai.
Determine the serving size
Serving size can be a question mark. You don’t want your platter to run out before your guests are full, and you also don’t want to waste food. Our rule of thumb is to plan a portion per person, and then cut up that amount into strips or bite size pieces. For example, the average person will eat 1 pita with filling. For a platter for 4 people, 4-5 pitas will be enough.
Our top braai tapas platter menus
We’ve compiled four platter menus for you to try out. Familiar flavour combinations for each course. Try it out yourself. Get creative, not much that can go wrong with a Braai Tapas Platter!
Appetizer braai tapas platter
Skip the chips, instant sour cream dips, and peanuts for a hearty braai starter. Inspired by braai as you know it, to tickle the taste buds for the mains. Remember, this is the starter so keep it light and small bite size pieces. You don’t want everyone full after starters with no more room for the main meal.
- Serves: 4
- Course: Starters
Type |
Selection of |
Quantity |
Ingredient suggestions |
Protein |
3 |
100g per person |
Beef or pork rashers, oepsies or thin boerewors cut into bite size pieces. |
Vegetables |
2 |
½ cup per person |
Julienne carrots or braaied sweet potato fries. |
Fruit |
2 |
2-3 chunks per person |
Chunks of pineapple, triangles of watermelon or dried apricots or peaches. |
Cheese |
3 |
½ cup per person of each |
Cream cheese, cubes of cheddar and camembert. |
Pickles |
3 |
¼ cup per person of each |
Peppadews, cocktail onions or pickled ginger. |
Sauces or dips |
2 |
1 cup of each |
Sweet chilli, spicey mayo or chilli oil. |
Starch |
2 |
3 hot dog rolls/ half baguettes |
Crostini |
Mediterranean braai tapas platter
Inspired by flavours of Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey just to name a few. Our Mediterranean menu celebrates warm spices like cumin, paprika and black pepper with fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and oregano.
- Serves: 4
- Course: Main meal
Type |
Selection of |
Quantity |
Ingredient suggestions |
Protein |
3 |
150-200g per person |
Chicken breast, beef koftas and Dijon mustard spiced steak strips. |
Vegetables |
2 |
½ cup per person |
Fresh red peppers, cherry tomatoes or braaied mushrooms. |
Fruit |
2 |
½ cup per person |
Red grapes or fresh figs |
Cheese |
3 |
½ cup per person of each |
Feta cheese, soft goat cheese and gouda |
Pickles |
3 |
¼ cup per person of each |
Gherkins, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, or olives |
Sauces or dips |
2 |
200g of each (usually the size of a store-bought tub) |
Hummus and fresh tzatziki. |
Starch |
2 |
5 breads |
Pita bread or flat bread toasted on the braai, cut into strips or triangles. |
TRADITIONAL BRAAI TAPAS PLATTER
Braai as you know it, in bite sized pieces. Make everything you would normally make for your favourite braai, slice it up and place it on one platter.
- Serves: 4
- Course: Main meal
Type |
Selection of |
Quantity |
Ingredient suggestions |
Protein |
3 |
150-200g per person |
Medium rare rump strips, boerewors in bitesize pieces, chicken wings or ribs. |
Vegetables |
2 |
½ cup per person |
Roasted red pepper or ¼ charred corn or corn ribs. |
Fruit |
2 |
½ cup per person |
Melon cubes or green grapes. |
Cheese |
3 |
½ cup per person of each |
Gouda in cubes, brie and pepper crusted cream cheese. |
Pickles |
3 |
1/4 cup per person of each |
Gherkins, peppadews, and pimento olives. |
Sauces or dips |
2 |
1 cup of each |
Chutney, tomato sauce or peri-peri mayo. |
Starch |
2 |
5 |
Bite size pieces of a traditional braai broodjie. |
DESSERT BRAAI TAPAS PLATTER
Finish off your braai party with a dessert platter. Inspired by traditional South African desserts, use these all-round favourites as inspiratation like sweet jaffles, pancakes, s’mores, malva pudding or even peppermint crisp tart.
- Serves: 4
- Course: Dessert
Type |
Selection of |
Quantity |
Ingredient suggestions |
Fruit |
2 |
1 cup per person |
Peaches, pineapple, or an assortment of berries. |
Dairy |
3 |
1 cup per person of each |
Freshly whipped cream, cream cheese with sugar, or ice cream. |
Sweets |
3 |
½ cup per person of each |
Marshmallows, chocolate pieces, or small jelly sweets. |
Sauces or dips |
2 |
1 cup of each |
Caramel tin, chocolate ganache or a flavoured meringue cream. |
Starch |
2 |
5 |
Braaied brownies, puff pastry cubes, halved donuts, or charred wafer biscuits. |
Braai tapas platters can be just about anything, it is all up to you. You can even rope in the kids to try it out and make one, with supervision when braaiing. Imagine it, going camping and the kids have the food sorted. That, is together, made better, made young!
For more recipes to try out for your next braai tapas platter, click here.