Braai (BBQ) Cherry & Streaky Bacon Skewers

These delicious and ridiculously easy-to-make cherry bacon sosatie sticks make a great starter to keep your guests (or starving children) happy while they wait for the main meal to hit the plates.

The Magic of a Braai (BBQ)

A braai (or Barbecue, as the rest of the world knows it) is the go-to cooking method for most South African gatherings. Many South African households make braaing one of their weekly evening meals (often regardless of the weather!). Building a fire and tending to it while feeling its warmth, breathing the fresh outside air, and watching its golden flames dance, can do so much more for you than just cook your food. 

Why add Cherry Bacon Sosatie Sticks to the menu?

One of the fun aspects of cooking over a fire is planning and using your heat wisely and these Cherry Bacon sticks can easily be slotted in as a tasty appetizer. They are super fast and simple to assemble, cook relatively quickly, and are one of the few things that cook best over the hotter coals. They are also especially delicious when eaten straight off the fire (saving the hassle of extra dishes). And of course, there is the simple fact that they include bacon, generally anything with bacon is a good idea to add to the menu!

To conclude, layering a skewer with some sweet cherries and folded strips of streaky bacon, giving them a quick sizzle over the heat and sharing them around the fire is super easy to achieve and simply a good idea.

Ingredients

For the skewers:

• 600 g streaky bacon
• 300 g maraschino cherries, drained (reserve juice)
• Sosatie sticks

Different options for marinade :

For the cherry marinade:

• 50 ml reserved cherry juice
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ tsp chilli flakes (optional, for a touch of heat)

Smoky BBQ Cherry

• 50 ml reserved cherry juice
• 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• Pinch of black pepper

Spicy Asian Cherry

• 50 ml reserved cherry juice
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sriracha or chilli sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• ½ tsp grated ginger

Instruction

• Whisk together your choice for marinade to form a sticky marinade. Follow by threading cherries and streaky bacon alternately onto skewers and brush generously with the marinade. Grill in a closed braai grid over hot coals, turning regularly, until caramelised and crispy. Finish with a final glaze of reserved marinade or cherry syrup before serving.