While the sun is out – it’s the perfect chance for a braai! Warm, summer-like days are becoming few and we need to take every opportunity to braai some meats, prepare the potato salad and share a cold one with friends and family.

It’s in our South African nature to gather round a fire and cook and eat. Even once the meal is done, there is nothing like sitting around the embers, sharing stories for the rest of the day into the evening.

Marinading 101

Plus, a braai is the time where you can show off your cooking or braai master skills. One secret weapon to add to your arsenal is a banging marinade. The culinary talents over at Granny Mouse Country House and Spa have the following tips for a memorable marinade:

• Make sure your meat is resting in the marinade for an hour (minimum) before hitting the grill.
•  Don’t leave marinating meats out on the kitchen counter – especially in summer – store it in the fridge.
• Marinated meat will burn easily because of the sugar content, cook over a lower heat and remove excess marinade before grilling.
• Discard any used marinade

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Columnist, Hilary Biller, says that one of the golden rules for a brilliant marinade: is the ratio of oil. She tells the Sunday Times that it is a “great carrier of flavour” and that it adds “juiciness” to the meat. It also stops the meat from “sticking to the braai grid,” says Biller.

Now we know that marinading your meats and veggies are important for max flavour and impact. But what about the actual herbs and spices that should be added? And do some herbs match any particular meal?

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Gardening extraordinaire, Tanya Visser, writes that the rule to matching herbs for your braai meat is to match them “as you would in conventional cooking”. Here are some guidelines when prepping your favourite braai meal:

• FISH: parsley, tarragon, fennel, coriander
• VEGGIES: thyme, garlic, mustard, basil
• CHICKEN: garlic, savoury, rosemary, oregano, basil
• STEAK: ginger, mint, thyme, garlic
• PORK: sage, mustard, sage, garlic, thyme, basil
• LAMB: rosemary, mint, thyme, lemon balm

Granny Mouse Country House & Spa adds that there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to herbs and spices. They do, however, say that using them will “liven up any meal”.