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South African noodle salad (Kerrie Noedelslaai) for a braai

By June 2, 2023FinGlobal

South African noodle salad (Kerrie Noedelslaai) for a braai

June 2, 2023

kerrie-noedelslaai

Are you looking for an easy curry noodle salad recipe for your next cookout or braai? Kerrie noedelslaai is the perfect noodle salad for braai. It’s easy to prepare, customisable and goes well as a side dish for any braaied meat and a wide range of main dishes. Braai noodle salad will satisfy your craving, wow your family and guests at your next braai gathering, and leave everyone wanting more.

What is kerrie noedelslaai?

Kerrie noedelslaai is a traditional South African curry noodle salad with a pleasing taste everyone loves. Like other dishes in South African cuisine, the curry noodle salad recipe in South Africa blends indigenous flavours and spices with those introduced by Dutch settlers and foreigners from other regions to create a tasty and visually appealing salad.

The noodle salad recipe for braai mostly requires ingredients available in your cupboard and guarantees tangy, bold flavours that are sweet and spicy, according to your preferences. Kerrie noedelslaai is vegan-friendly, chewy, and filling, and you can prepare it in advance and serve it after a day or two as it only gets better the longer it rests as the flavours blend together.

Easy curry noodle salad recipe

Try this easy noodle salad recipe for braai to get a carnival of flavours suitable for barbeques, lunch boxes, or picnics.

Servings: 8 people

Preparation time: 15 minutes

What you need:

  • 500g noodles or pasta
  • 1 red onion
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 250ml tomato sauce
  • 125ml sunflower or olive oil
  • 125ml white vinegar
  • 5 teaspoons or 25ml of mild curry powder
  • 180g of granulated sugar
  • Black pepper, ground
  • 1ml tabasco sauce
  • Salt

What to do:

  • Pour some water into a pot and place on high heat to make your noodles or pasta. Once your water starts boiling, add the oil, salt, and noodles, then cook for around 10 minutes or according to the package instructions.
  • Once the noodles are done, drain all the water and add them to a large salad bowl.
  • Chop the red onion and bell pepper finely and set aside.
  • Prepare your dressing in a bowl by mixing the tomato sauce, olive oil, vinegar, curry powder, sugar, black pepper, and tabasco sauce. You can adjust the amount of tabasco sauce or pepper you use according to your preferences or taste.
  • Add in the peppers and onions and stir through.
  • Add the dressing sauce to your noodles and mix until everything is combined. Some noodles or pasta shapes expand more than others and may require slightly less sauce, so you can add in a little at a time and stop once it’s saucy enough.
  • Stir through a few times to distribute the sauce and once everything is combined nicely, cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight. The longer it sits, the tastier it gets.
  • Serve cold or at room temperature as a salad or side dish for grilled meat like ribs, chops, steak or roast chicken.

Keynotes for a South African curry noodle salad recipe

Noodles/Pasta – You can use any shape of noodles or pasta you like, with twisty shapes and shells working well for the recipe. Avoid overcooking the noodles or pasta as it can become mushy, lose shape and become unappetizing or difficult to handle. Always follow the package instructions and ensure it’s cooked but still firm. Darin the pasta well after cooking to cool it down and remove any excess starch that can make it clump together and become sticky.

Dressing – Although the dressing or sauce is important, using too much can overpower your braai noodle salad or make it soggy. Start with small quantities and add more gradually instead of adding it all in at once. Toss the noodles or pasta and stir through between additions until you get the desired level of coating.

Flavour – If you don’t add enough flavour, your kerrie noedelslaai can become bland. Ensure you use sufficient spices, fresh herbs and other seasonings for a burst of flavour. You can substitute various ingredients on the noodle salad recipe for braai to match your tastes. For example, you can use green, yellow or orange bell peppers instead of red peppers and green or white onions instead of red onions. It’s safe to keep things mild instead of too spicy or sweet, especially if serving a large group of people with varying tastes, so start with small and add more later.

Chilling and Serving – South African curry noodle salad is best served chilled, so ensure you refrigerate it for a minimum of 1 hour before serving. The salad can last well in the fridge for up to 5 days, and it usually gets better after a day or two as it allows the flavours to blend together and develop. You can serve it with other ingredients like artichokes, roasted peppers, dried apricots or tinned peaches to increase texture and taste.

Storage – Making the salad a day or two before your braai get-together can result in a more cohesive and tastier salad and save you time and effort on the day of the event. Ensure you store the braai noodle salad in an airtight container in the fridge, and only add delicate ingredients like fresh herbs right before serving to ensure they don’t get discoloured or soggy. The salad isn’t suitable for freezing or extremely hot temperatures. If you’re serving outdoors in warm weather, keep it in a shaded, cool area to prevent it from getting soggy or too warm.

Expert advice for SA expats right here at FinGlobal

A good emigration process is much like preparing delicious kerrie noedelslaai; you need a good and easy recipe! FinGlobal provides bespoke advice tailored to your unique emigration requirements, whether abroad or considering emigrating. Our services and expertise are available for all South African expats abroad and in the country.

With over ten years of experience, FinGlobal guarantees quality services with all the support you need during and after your financial emigration. Contact us to discuss your unique queries on pensions, tax, retirement annuities, forex, etc. Call us today at +27 28 313 5600 or email us at info@finglobal.com for quick assistance!

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