Lamb or chicken skewers marinated in a mildly curried, apricot-sweetened marinade, grilled over open flame, a Cape Malay braai favorite.
South African Sosaties is a real, traditional South African dish, known as Marinated Curried Meat Skewers. Lamb or chicken skewers marinated in a mildly curried, apricot-sweetened marinade, grilled over open flame, a Cape Malay braai favorite.\n\nSosaties reflect Cape Malay culinary traditions, their sweet-savory apricot and curry marinade showing the same Indonesian and Malaysian influences found in bobotie, historically prepared for special celebrations and now a braai staple.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in South African home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.
Serves 6
Cook the diced onion, curry powder, garlic and ginger in oil for a few minutes until fragrant, then stir in apricot jam, vinegar, brown sugar and salt, simmering briefly until combined. Let cool.
Toss the cubed meat with the cooled marinade and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best flavor.
Thread the marinated meat onto skewers, alternating with onion chunks and dried apricots.
Preheat a grill or braai to medium-high heat.
Grill the skewers for 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally and basting with any remaining marinade, until charred outside and cooked through.
Serve hot with yellow rice or pap.
Marinate for as long as possible, ideally overnight, since the apricot jam and vinegar both tenderize the meat and build flavor with more time.
Baste with the reserved marinade while grilling for extra flavor and glaze.
Alternate meat with onion and dried apricot on the skewers for the traditional sweet-savory bite throughout.
Use chicken instead of lamb for a lighter, quicker-cooking version.
Some households add bell pepper chunks to the skewers for extra color.
Adjust the curry powder quantity for a milder or more pronounced curry flavor.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.
Sosaties reflect Cape Malay culinary traditions, their sweet-savory apricot and curry marinade showing the same Indonesian and Malaysian influences found in bobotie, historically prepared for special celebrations and now a braai staple.
Yes, it keeps well refrigerated for several days, making it convenient to prepare ahead of marinating the meat.
It likely wasn't marinated long enough, or was overcooked — marinate for several hours and grill just until cooked through.
Yellow rice (turmeric-flavored rice, often with raisins) or pap are the classic accompaniments.
Per serving (260g / 9.2 oz) · 6 servings total
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