The Most Underrated Braai Weekend of the Year

The Easter weekend is almost here, and we all know what that means. Family in town, camping trips booked and fridges getting fuller. It also means thinking about what to braai on Easter Sunday.

So if you’re already Googling:

• Easter braai ideas South Africa

• What to cook for Easter braai

• Easter Sunday braai menu

• Easter long weekend food ideas

You’re in the right place.

Let’s build your Easter menu.

1. Lamb Chops - An Easter Classic

Lamb chops at Easter are practically a South African tradition. If Christmas has gammon, Easter has lamb. To ensure you have the best lamb, we’ve composed some homegrown tips:

Donkey Tips for Perfect Lamb Chops:

1. Keep it simple.

Olive oil, salt, black pepper, rosemary. Don’t overcomplicate something that is already so good.

2. Hot coals. Not flames.

You want a hot, even coal bed. Flames = burnt fat = a very upset uncle.

3. Don’t flip your chops every 10 seconds.

Let them sear properly. 3-4 Minutes per side for medium, depending on thickness.

4. Rest them.

Five minutes off the fire before serving (Give everyone a chance to grab their plates).

And remember to use your Donkey Tong 69cm to turn your meat. Trying to turn 50 chops with any other tong is how Easter turns into a hospital story.

Images by  Frankie Fenner Meat Merchant and Chef Ollie.

2. Whole Chicken on the Braai

If lamb is the king, chicken is the crowd-pleaser (even if some consider it a salad). Here are some tips for the best Easter chicken.

Donkey Tips for Braaied Chicken:

1. Butterfly it (spatchcock).

Flattening the bird helps it cook evenly and faster.

2. Indirect heat is your friend.

Place the chicken away from direct flames. No one wants a chicken that is burnt on the outside but raw on the inside.

3. Baste at the end.

Whether it’s lemon butter, peri-peri, or honey mustard, glaze during the last 10 minutes so it doesn’t burn.

Low and slow wins this race. And don’t forget to use your Donkey Long Tong 80cm to prep your coals.

Image by Frankie Fenner Meat Merchant

3. Snoek on the Fire

If you’re near the coast, snoek is a serious Easter contender.

And no, you don’t have to choose between snoek and pickled fish. There’s room for both.

Donkey Tips for the Perfect Snoek:

1. Medium heat only.

Fish is delicate. Too hot and it dries out fast.

2. Skin-side down first.

Let the skin crisp and protect the flesh.

3. Baste generously.

Apricot jam, butter, garlic, lemon. Classic. No debates.

Snoek is fast. Don’t walk away. If you do, you might lose both your fish and your Braai Master title.

Image by Lekker Weskus and Chef Ollie.

4. Mielies & Braaibroodjies 

No Easter Braai menu is complete without the supporting cast of the best braai sides. Here are 2 winners:

Mielies on the Fire

• Soak them (if still in husk) for 10–15 minutes.

• Cook over medium coals.

• Turn regularly.

• Finish with butter and salt, or chilli-lime and feta if you’re feeling fancy.

Char marks are welcome. Burnt-to-ash is not.

The Classic Braaibroodjie

Bread. Butter on the outside.
Inside: cheddar, tomato, onion, chutney, salt & pepper.

Cook on medium coals. Flip carefully. Press lightly.
Golden and crispy outside. Melted heaven inside.

It sounds simple. It’s not. Timing is everything.

Image with Nomu.

5. Hot Cross Buns… On The Braai

Yes. We’re doing it. If you’re Googling Easter dessert ideas South Africa, here’s what you need to do:

Slice hot cross buns in half. Lightly butter them. Toast cut-side down on medium coals (quickly!).

Then add:

• A scoop of vanilla ice cream

• Or caramel drizzle

• Or melted chocolate

• Or all of the above

An Easter braai dessert like this is guaranteed to have people coming back every Easter. 

Image by Jason Bakery (Who also stocks Donkey Long Tong)

Final Thoughts: Start the Fire Early

And there you have it. Simple, solid Easter Braai ideas for the Easter long weekend, and honestly, for every public holiday that follows.

So grab a Donkey Long Tong fire tool, throw some wood on the fire and stock up on food. Because it never hurt to start the festivities a little early.

Easter 2026 is coming. Let’s braai.