A great braai brings the whole family together – including the kids. From picking the perfect sides and meat to the beauty of braai conversations, a braai is a celebration that brings people of all ages together. Let’s look at ways of getting kids excited about braaiing and preparing their own food. Cooking with kids
Pin the tail on the task
Let’s start with a little game to get the kids involved! Play a quick round of ‘pin the tail’ to assign each family member a dish to prepare. Keep the options kid-friendly, and leave the rest to the adults. Simple, fun tasks like making burger patties, basting corn with creamy butter (using our trusty basting brush: http://bit.ly/2vuAjjD), or making some delicious homemade lemonade. YUM. This way everyone feels like they contributed to the meal.
Kid-Approved Braai Recipes
Help the kids get stuck into braai pizzas, homemade burger patties and delicious S’mores!
Braai pizza (makes 4 mini pizzas)
How
does a Braai Pizza sound? Amazing, right? Here’s how you go about creating and cooking a pizza on the braai. Let’s get kneading, sprinkling and arranging the perfect pizza.
You’ll need
- 1 bag bread dough
- Olive oil for brushing
- 15ml tomato paste
- 200 ml mozzarella, grated
- 100 ml cheddar cheese, grated
- Salt and pepper
If you have a weber-style braai with a temperature gauge, this one’s for you! Place your homemade pizza on the Eetrite pizza pan and put it straight on the grill. The holes in the pan increase air circulation and release moisture – creating the perfect crispy crust. Ensure the braai is heated to about 200°C and close the lid for only a few minutes for the ultimate crispy-base pizza! Be careful not to leave the pan on the grill for too long to prevent warping.
Method
- Get the braai started!
- Divide the dough into four quarters and give to the kids to stretch it into their own circular pizza shape. Make sure it’s thin enough!
- Brush the dough with olive oil and place oil-side-down on the grill. The braai should be at a medium-high heat.
- Cook until lightly browned underneath but still very doughy and soft on top. Brush the top with olive oil and flip. Cook the other side until light brown.
- Remove the dough from the grill and thinly spread tomato paste over.
- Sprinkle over cheese, salt and pepper
- Place back on the grill until the cheese has melted
Keep the party going by slicing up some pineapple, green pepper, pieces of meat and sausages, olives and fresh basil and let the kids decorate their own pizzas! Enjoy!
Homemade burger patties
Here’s one for the kids who prefer messy cooking! Squish, mix and shape your own homemade burger patties.
You’ll need
- 500g minced beef
- 3 spring onions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- Black pepper
- 4 rashers bacon
Method:
- Mix all the ingredients together and divide into 4 equal pieces.
- Wrap a rasher of bacon around each of the patties.
- Using the Eetrite 2 Section Aluminium Burger Press have your little one press the burgers into shape.
- Cook on the grill for 15 minutes, turning halfway.
- Serve with buns, cheese, salad and any sauce of your choice. A side of crispy potato wedges is also a winner at braais!
You must decide for yourself whether the child is mature enough to handle knives or man the grill on his/her own – just make sure you keep an eye on them and are close enough to step in when you need to.
End off the meal with something gooey, sweet and chocolatey: S’mores. Have the kids put their own marshmallows on sticks and roast it over the smouldering coals until the sides start to turn brown slightly. Then, place a block of chocolate on a Tennis Biscuit with the marshmallow on top and sandwich with the other biscuit. 
Some last-minute tips that every young braaier needs to know:
Meat and greet: What type of meat are you looking to braai? Boerewors? Chicken? Try the rump steak as it tends to have more flavour than fillet!
Spice it up: Don’t over spice the meat. Often a nice sprinkling of salt and pepper does the trick. Alternatively, baste! Brush the sauce on closer to the end to ensure that sugary and tomato based sauces don’t burn. Give the kids a basting brush and have them paint their piece of meat! It’s a great way to teach them the basics of braaiing and basting.
Something on the side: When deciding on sides for a braai, take the weather and season into consideration. Opt for produce that’s in season and plan your veggie and salads around that. Be sure you don’t forget the Braai side-staples: potato salad and braaibroodjies!
Test: Everyone likes their meat cooked differently and slicing a small piece from the side will help you see how well the meat is cooked on the inside.
Serve it up: From sides to meat platters, Eetrite offers a wide range of serveware to fit in perfectly with any braai. Click here to view our range: http://bit.ly/2oN5csY
Leave us a comment below and tell us what your favourite kids braai recipe is! We would love to hear.