A freshly baked bread is probably one of the most popular and tastiest side dishes at any braai. LIANA REINERS sniffed out a few easy recipes that can be prepared with very little effort at.any braai.
I can go without many things in life. Bread is not one of them. There is nothing that can beat a thick side of fresh bread with a decent layer of butter and maybe a little grated cheese and apricot jam. Yummy! They say you are what you eat… that might explain why my backside resembles balls of dough…
If you’re the homey sort you can make the dough yourself, but for lazy(-ish) people like me, most supermarkets sell bread dough that has already been prepared. You can even choose between brown and white! From here, your imagination is your only limit. You can use the dough as it is for a basic pot bread, or you can add a few simple ingredients to make it a feast like no other.
All three of these breads are relatively easy to make. Chances are good one won’t be enough, so make a few variations and wait for the compliments to start pouring in.

Bacon and beer bread
Ingredients
500g self raising flower
250g bacon bits
1 beer (can or bottle of your choice)
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cheddar cheese (cut into small squares)
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
Method
Fry the bacon until crispy. Fry the onion in butter until soft. Leave to cool. Mix the flour, salt and beer to form a firm dough. Place on a surface sprinkled with flour and press out into a rectangle. Mix the bacon, onions and cheese into the dough and work through. Place in a greased bread pan. Bake at 180°C for roughly 45 minutes.

Potato bread
Ingredients
450ml flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
3 medium potatoes (peeled and grated)
1 cup grated cheese
1 egg
80ml – 100ml milk
1 packet Potato Bake (flavour of your choice)
4 streaks of bacon (chopped)
Method
Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Place in a greased bread pan and bake at 180°C for 40 to 50 minutes.

Biltong bread
Ingredients
1 packet shop-bought bread dough
2 packets Potato Bake (flavour of your choice)
250ml cream
400g grated cheese
200g biltong powder
1 finely chopped onion
250ml milk
Method
Roll the dough into equal-sized balls and arrange in an oven dish. Mix the Potato Bake, cream, milk, onion and biltong together in a measuring jug. Pour the mixture over the dough balls. Sprinkle grated cheese over the top. Bake at 180°C for 30 to 40 minutes.