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Boerewors

Meat · Cured & processed meats

Boerewors

South African coiled fresh sausage of beef (often with pork), spiced with coriander; a braai staple.

Also called: boerewors sausage, farmer's sausage, wors, South African sausage

Around the world: boerewors (af)

A kind of pork sausage

1 recipe with it

Photo: TempestSA at English Wikipedia, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

What it is

Boerewors ('farmer's sausage') is a coarse fresh sausage, typically beef mixed with pork or lamb, seasoned with toasted coriander, nutmeg, cloves and vinegar, and sold in a long continuous coil. By South African regulation it must be mostly meat. It is raw and grilled whole.

How it’s used

  • Grilled on the braai
  • Boerewors rolls with tomato and onion relish
  • With pap (maize porridge) and chakalaka

Characteristics

Taste
Savoury and spiced with coriander and clove.
Texture
Coarse and juicy.
When cooked
Grill the coil whole over medium coals, turning once or twice; skewering it keeps it flat.
Sold as
fresh, frozen
Cooking uses
Commonly cooked, Suitable for grilling

Storage

Refrigerated. Keep cold and use by the date, or freeze.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions. May contain Sulphites — check the label.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Raw: cook to 71 °C (160 °F) with no pink in the centre.
  • Processed meat; may contain sulphites.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
396 kcal
Protein
13.8 g
Carbohydrate
2.7 g
Fat
36.25 g
Fibre
0 g
Sugars
0 g

USDA FoodData Central: Sausage, pork and beef, fresh, cooked (a close stand-in).

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Pork sausage — Coarse fresh sausages seasoned with ground coriander and a pinch of clove.

Related ingredients

Recipes with boerewors

More cured & processed meats