In today’s journey, I’m sharing with you a local food in Lesotho: braai. Braai is similar to barbecue in the US, and it is often made for special occasions. It is not only delicious but also a great opportunity for communities to get together and enjoy each other's company. I always have fun cooking and eating braai with my friends here, and I hope you all will be excited to learn more about this tasty tradition in Lesotho!
I tried a traditional form of barbecue known as braai (rhymes with ‘why’). It is originally from South Africa, but now it's very popular in Lesotho. It is common all year round, but similar to barbecue in the US, braai is especially prominent during the summer months. Oftentimes, families and friends will gather to cook braai, chat and relax together. Braai commonly consists of seasoned grilled meat and a side of papa, a porridge-like side dish made of maize (corn) meal.
When I first tried braai, I was at home with my host family. It was the last day of school, so we were celebrating the upcoming break. We sat around the yard in lawn chairs while my host dad used coal to start up the grill. I was excited because I had never tried braai before, but it smelled amazing.
