Menu

a collection of

Kerrygold Moments

Back to news
02/12/19

Tips & Recipes for Cooking Over a Campfire

Campsites are one of the best places to spend the summer in South Africa. Without the appliances and other comforts of home, however, it can prove tricky to prepare a big feast for family and friends. But worry not – here are some simple recipes and top tips to help you cook like a pro over the campfire this festive season.

Tips for cooking over the campfire:

  1. Consistent heat is best

Take care not to cook your meat over an open flame as this is a sure-fire way to burn the outside of the meat without cooking the inside. Optimal heat is usually indicated by white coals; however, you may also try this simple test. Hold your hand a few centimetres above the grid. If you can keep it there for five seconds, the steak is ready to go on. Seven seconds are best for boerewors, and 10 seconds is ideal for chicken.

  1. Opt for one-pot wonders

What better place to break out the potjie pot than at a campsite? One-pot meals such as potjies, stews, pasta, and paella work wonders as you won’t need to worry about making space for multiple pots and pans at once. Cooking with a single pot also helps make clean-up a breeze.

  1. Be prepared

As far as possible, try to measure, slice, and dice the ingredients you’ll need in advance. Store them in separate containers so you can simply bring them out when you need them. Plastic storage containers are great as they can double up as bowls (and the lids as quick cutting boards).

  1. Foil is your friend

If we had to pick one essential product for a campfire, aluminium foil would be it. Cooking over the campfire doesn’t get much easier than wrapping your ingredients in foil ‘packets’ and putting them over the hot coals. These foil packets are fantastic for all kinds of meals, including desserts.

  1. Keep the skewer sticks in good supply

These nifty wooden sticks can be used for almost anything, from the meat and veggies to the marshmallows. Be sure to soak the sticks in water for at least 30 minutes before you load them up and pop them on the braai to prevent them from burning.

  1. Invest in campfire accessories

It may also be worthwhile to invest in a few clever tools that will make the campfire cooking process altogether more enjoyable. Some that we recommend include grid stands, braai woks, tripod stands, jaffle makers, cast iron cookware, and digital thermometers.

  1. Have a back-up plan

If the summer rains spoil your plans for a lunchtime braai or the store’s close before you can top up on wood, it will pay to have a back-up plan in place. This includes taking a small gas stove along in case of emergencies – these are also great for preparing a quick cup of morning coffee!

  1. Remember the Kerrygold butter

Butter is always the secret ingredient that makes any dish taste better. This is why we recommend keeping a few blocks of Kerrygold butter and a basting brush on hand, to give your meat and veggies a rich, creamy flavour.

Campfire cooking recipes

Follow the links below to access our favourite campfire cooking recipes.

For the mains:

For the sides:

For dessert:

***

Do you have a delicious recipe or great campfire cooking tip to add? Please share with us over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.