South African cuisine is a melting pot of the many cultures that have lived side by side on the continent for many years.
Different styles of cooking have emerged from this cross-pollination of traditions, and boerewors is a good example of how different cultures came together to produce what has become a classic South African food.
Boerewors is made by grinding meat, spices, salt, pepper, and vinegar, into a sausage casing to form a continuous spiral, rather than individual short sausages.
It is ideal for a traditional South African braai, but being quite versatile it is also suitable for breakfast, lunch or supper, as the main meat course or in casserole dishes.
Because boerewors is equally tasty when served hot and cold, it is perfect for lunch boxes and picnics, providing you can keep it well chilled.
Boerewors is testament to the art of sausage-making, bringing a unique combination of spices that tantalise the taste buds.
Speaking of the art of sausage-making, one cook has been awarded for making the best boerewors in SA.
Ruard Briel, a 37-year-old of Centurion, Gauteng, was recently crowned winner of the 2024 Shoprite and Checkers Championship Boerewors competition.
Briel said: “I am in disbelief! I am absolutely ecstatic. It really comes down to getting the boerewors’s flavour profile balanced, combined with belief in myself. I am so happy. Thanks to Shoprite and Checkers for this opportunity.”
Briel, who is a financial manager, emerged victorious after battling it out against nine other finalists from across the nation at the grand finale held in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape on Saturday, August 24.
Apart from the coveted title of 2024 championship boerewors-maker, Briel also drove away with a brand-new Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD-6 RB AT worth R600 000, and R20 000 in cash.
According to the organisers, the entries were judged through various elimination rounds by the South African Chefs Association (Saca).
The finale saw the top 10 cook and serve their boerewors to a judging panel of food experts that included Zanele van Zyl, Carmen Niehaus, James Khoza, Matthew Howcroft, Martin Kobald, and surprise wildcard judge, former Springbok lock, Bakkies Botha.
Briel’s winning boerewors recipe will be available at Shoprite and Checkers stores nationwide from September 6.