Make Your Own Boerewors

Different herbs and spices give each boerewors recipe its unique flavour profile, and they are usually passed down from generation to generation. Today, pre-packed spices are added to minced meat and spek to deliver the differing flavours of boerewors found in all South African supermarkets. Nevertheless, making your own boerewors is a rewarding experience.

Here are some examples of ingredients used in boerewors:

• 3 kgs meat (either one type or any combination of beef, pork, mutton or ostrich)
• 500g spek
• 4 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons pepper
• 7 teaspoons ground coriander, or coriander seeds roughly ground
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• Casings

Cut meat and spek into cubes and add all the spices. Let this stand for an hour and then mince and fill casings.

• Optional ingredients:
• ½ cup port or sherry
• 1 bulb garlic, crushed
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• Grated rind of 1 orange
• 12 sage leaves
• 1 teaspoon marjoram
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger