The Boerewors. Directly translated to English as “Farmer’s Sausage,” this Southern African good staple is well known across our nation as well as our neighbours. There is however something that not everyone knows about and that is where it came from.
Have you ever been at your weekly family braai, took a bight of a boerie roll, and thought to yourself, “I wonder how they came up with this?”
Luckily for you, that’s exactly what we’re digging into today!
Let’s take a look at the history, creation, and story of one of our most well-known local delicacies, the Boerewors.
History and Origins
With the Afrikaans nation being one that derived from the Dutch, the same implication can be applied to the Boerewors. According to TheBoereworsBlog our national sausage is based off the Dutch equivalent, The Verste Wors. With the Afrikaans nation being descendants of the Dutch who initially colonised South Africa, the creation of the Boerewors was inevitable.
Utilising the ingredients and meat available at hand, the Verste Wors soon began to develop and change until inevitably becoming the braaimasters’ staple dish at any event or get-together.
According to Whetstonemagazine the main ingredients within any Boerewors consist mainly of the following:
- Course, ground meat (any kind will do but beef is the most widely used) consisting of at most 30% fat content
- Coriander
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Pepper
- Salt
- And of course, the traditional sheep or pig intestinal casing that holds it all together
Recipes and Variations
The Boerewors sausage is a relatively simple dish whose flavour is completely dependent on the maker. Utilising different ingredients or cuts of meat is not frowned upon and in fact, encouraged.
Some recipes include varying options to suit the pallet of those willing to explore. Various types of this sausage can include the inclusion of chilies for a Wors that bites back, thinly cased sausages that can be used in breakfast dishes, or even lamb-based sausages to cater to kosher markets.
Closing thoughts
Much like the Afrikaans culture, the Boerewors has developed, adapted, and catered to many nations.
Despite the various styles and types, one can get there is always one thing that is for certain when it comes to this dish.
When you see that signature spiral being thrown onto a braai, your mouth immediately starts to water.
Start your own journey in making this signature South African delicacy by purchasing some of our signature spices and casings. You’d be surprised how simple it is to make something so tasty!
