“That’s a Winner Braaibroodjie”: SA Woman’s Proper Braaibroodjie Recipe Has Mzansi Weighing In

• A South African woman shared a Facebook video breaking down her go-to braaibroodjie recipe for South Africans
• Her simple and easy to do braaibroodjie method includes a saucy mix she calls the secret trick that makes it a winner
• The clip divided South Africans, with many defending their own versions of the classic braai staple

A South African woman has the internet fired up over something most locals consider a braai non-negotiable: the perfect braaibroodjie.

Ziané Saayman posted a Facebook reel on 17 August 2026 laying out exactly how she builds hers. The clip had the unmistakable energy of someone who genuinely believes they have cracked the code.

How Ziané builds her braaibroodjie

Her method is straightforward. She starts by buttering the bread, then layers on onion slices (not the whole onion, she is very clear about that), followed by cheese and tomato slices on the other side. Then comes what she calls the real trick: a mix of chutney and mayo spread over the lot. She said, before adding that she usually gets "babe" to actually braai it for her:

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"That's a winner braai broodjie."

Simple enough. But South Africans in the comments had thoughts.

View the Facebook video below:

Mzansi defends its braaibroodjie

The reactions on her page ranged from enthusiastic agreement to outright rejection of the sauce. Some viewers had their own upgrades to suggest, while others felt the classic version needed no interference whatsoever.

@Hennie Wessels wrote:

"Not the HOL onion 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣"

@Gaynor Bugan said:

"You butterrrrrrrrr it"

@Danny Hercules Danny suggested:

"Instead of butter, try cream cheese and sweet chilli 😉"

@André Delport pushed back on the sauce entirely:

"No sauce, please. Cheese and tomato have enough moisture."

@Johannes Martiaan Steenkamp held firm on tradition:

"A proper braaibroodjie has only cheese, onions, tomato, salt and pepper."

@Duane Van Wyk was not convinced by the chutney either:

"Chutney makes it sweet! 🤮"

@Norman van den Wildenberg offered a different approach altogether:

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"Or you use a tosti-machine."

More Briefly News stories on food

• Lebo Lion shared her perspective on branded versus generic food, leaving South Africans divided over which option offers better value and quality.
• A Namibian doctor walked through a grocery store highlighting which foods shoppers should buy and avoid, with her blunt advice drawing attention online.
• A South African shopper reviewed Pick n Pay’s R21 pot meal, with the affordable food option getting Mzansi talking about its taste and value for money.

Source: Briefly News