The Ultimate Heritage Day Plan

Heritage Day in South Africa, better known as National Braai Day, has a very special place in our hearts. Not only is it a day where South Africans everywhere light their fires together, but it’s also the day that Donkey Long Tong officially started. On 24 September 2021, our first fire tool hit the market, and four years later, we’ve been part of countless fires, stories, and braai meat memories. Even better? Four years without burnt hands, bent backs, or anyone asking: “Where’s your long tong?”

So yes, Heritage Day is huge for us, and a braai day menu this special deserves more than the same chops-and-salad combo. If you’re looking for fresh ideas for braai sides, creative twists on braai recipes, or a full braai meal plan that’ll make Tannie Ina proud, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s the ultimate Braai Day menu for 24 September, with starters, braai side dishes, braai meat, and even proudly South African desserts. Bonus: we’ll show you the right tools for every fire and braai.

Starters - Kick Off Braai Day Right

Starters don’t always make the list of braai essentials, but we think they should. Forget only chips and biltong (though they’re always winners). Here are two quick braai ideas that get the fire started and the tools that help:

Cheese & Crackers on the Fire

• Place camembert on a cast iron pan (Tool Room has great options for you!).

• Put it on the grid over the fire until it softens and melts.

• Serve with crackers, chilli jam, maybe even figs.

• Use your Donkey Tong 69cm for moving the cheese around without burning your fingers.

This might seem like an unconventional start to the braai, but trust us, it’s delicious.

Image of Tool Room pan and Donkey Tong 69cm

Mini Chops as a Starter

Yes, chops as a starter. Small, spiced to your liking, braaied with your Donkey Tong 69cm. Its length helps you manage the heat while you flip and turn without burning your hands. Then pass them around in a braai bak. Simple. Delicious. Instant hit.

Braai Side Dishes - The Must-Haves

Coming up with side dishes for a braai can feel daunting, but they’re what turn meat into a real braai meal. Some classics never fail:

• Potato salad

• Coleslaw

• Crisp green salad

• Potbread over flames

• Mielies on the braai

• Braaibroodjies

And speaking of braaibroodjies, they deserve their own spotlight (especially when you’ve got the right tools!).

Braai Recipe Spotlight: Braaibroodjie with a Twist

Sure, a braaibroodjie might be the simplest braai side dish, but it’s also the most versatile. This one’s a keeper:

What you need:

• Ciabatta bread

• Camembert cheese

• Caramelised onions

• Chutney

• Tomato slices

• Mayonnaise

What to do:

1. Spread mayo and chutney on ciabatta slices.

2. Add camembert, caramelised onions, and tomato.

3. Toast gently over low coals. Use the Donkey Long Tong 80cm when you need to shift coals or wood without getting too close.

4. Turn often. (Pro tip: if you can’t turn it with your hands, the coals are too hot.)

5. Wait until golden brown and gooey inside.

This braai idea doubles up as a side or even dessert if you’re adventurous enough!

Braai Meat - The Stars of the Fire

A braai day menu isn’t complete without a line-up of the best braai meat. Here are our top picks:

Ribeye - The Premium Pick

Juicy, marbled, and tender. A ribeye on the bone is a showstopper on any braai grid. Use the Donkey Tong 69cm to hold the steak steady and flip it with ease.

Chicken - The Versatile Option

Smoky, crispy-skinned, and zesty with lemon. Chicken can be tricky near hot coals. The Donkey Long Tong tools help you manage spacing, heat, and turn rates. Use the Donkey Tong 69cm for flipping and the Donkey Long Tong 80cm for managing the coals.

Boerewors - The South African Classic

Spiced, coiled, proudly local. No Heritage Day braai is complete without a boerie. Use the Donkey Tong 69cm so you can slide under the coiled sausage for neat flips.

Heritage Day Desserts - Sweets by the Fire

Once the meat’s finished and the coals are glowing low, it’s time for something sweet. Dessert is the perfect excuse to restart the fire and keep the stories alive.

Our top picks for Heritage Day desserts:

• Malva pudding (serve warm. You can even warm the Malva dish over low coals)

• Peppermint Crisp tart

• Milk tart
  

Pro tip: Check out Frankie Fenner for a Peppermint Crisp tart recipe that’ll knock your socks off.

Image by Frankie Fenner

Tools That Make It Better: Why Choose Donkey Long Tong 

To pull off the perfect braai meal, having the right tools isn’t a luxury, it’s essential. Let’s highlight some gear you need:

• Donkey Long Tong 80cm - built long enough so you can tend coals, shift logs, and manage fire without burning hands or bending. 

• Donkey Tong 69cm - slightly shorter, perfect for handling food directly over the fire, flipping meat, braaibroodjies, or even starters like mini chops. 

• Donkey Combo - You need both tongs in your tool-arsenal. The Donkey Combo gets you the Donkey Long Tong 80cm and the Donkey Tong 69cm together. You’re equipped for everything: from moving coals and firewood to food flipping.

Having these tools mean your braai ideas go from good to great with less stress, better execution and more time to enjoy friends, fire, and flavour.

Your Heritage Day Braai Sorted

And there you have it, a full braai day menu with braai recipes, braai side dishes, and enough braai ideas to impress family, friends, and neighbours. With the right gear from Donkey Long Tong to match your meat and sides, this National Braai Day will be one to remember.

This Heritage Day, grab your tongs, light the fire, and gather your people. From us at Donkey Long Tong: happy Heritage Day, and may your tongs always be long and strong!