Beetroot Side Salad

Beetroot Side Salad Recipe

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This beetroot side salad is the perfect braai (barbecue) companion. Here in sunny South Africa, we have many different traditions when it comes to a braai. Salads in only one of them. When you get the opportunity to be invited to a braai, you will see this for yourself.

The husband is usually the person responsible for the braai. He, or she does the cooking of the meat on the grid over the hot coals. The wife is the person responsible for preparing the side dishes, of which, salad is one. She, or he, stands in the kitchen preparing the braaibroodjies (sandwiches grilled over hot coals), as well as the side salad.

The most popular side salad for a braai is aartappelslaai (potato salad), but most people eat beetroot on the side. This beetroot side salad is a classic traditional side salad for the braai. You should be lucky enough to encounter this salad when attending a braai (barbecue) in South Africa. It is a delicious recipe and I can dare to say that you will be tempted to return for a second, or third portion.

I say return because it works like this. When the husband, and wife, have completed their braai (barbecue) preparation duties, they normally gather around the fire, where the husband is busy showing off his braai (barbecue) skills. His skills depend on what he had to drink. If he, or she, had beer, he is a pro braaimeester (barbecue master). If he, or she, had brandy, he is a superhero braaimeester (superman braai master). If he, or she, had whiskey, there is nothing you can tell him about braaing. He knows all the tricks and can braai with his eyes closed, except, he only opens his eyes when he has a sip of his whiskey.

Okay, where were we? O yes, the husband and wife is gathering around the braai. Now, once the meat has been braaied, and the side dishes has been prepared, all the food gets transferred to a table, where everyone dishes for themselves. This way, most people can go for a second, or even third helpings, with no one else caring how much who eats.

There you have it, a bit of the background of the braai traditions in our contry. This is the country with the friendliest people on the planet, so, please do yourself a favor and visit this country, if only it is to taste the delicious beetroot side salad, and experience a braai.

Oh, and, don't come and shoot our lions, they also braai. Only joking.

We are happy you are here and we hope you enjoy our beetroot side salad recipe. Please let us know what you think if you have had the privilege of enjoying this splendid recipe.

Thanks and happy braaing.