Lifestyle
Meat-free Monday mielies with chilli and lime
Grilling brings out the natural sweetness of mielies, and brushing them with butter keeps them rich, juicy and full of flavour as they cook.
Mielies are naturally filling, high in fibre, and don’t need much added to them, making them a great option for a meat-free meal. They’re naturally sweet, easy to cook, and work well on the braai, picking up a bit of char without drying out. This version keeps things straightforward, using butter for richness, lime for balance and chilli for heat if you want it. You can leave the chilli out for kids, turn it up for adults, or serve the mielies alongside salads or other braai favourites, depending on how you plan to eat them.
Ingredients
- 4 mielies
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
- 2 red chillies, seeded and finely chopped, optional
- Zest and juice of 4 limes
- Salt and crushed black pepper
Method
- Brush the mielies generously with the melted butter.
- Place them on a braai grid over medium-hot coals.
- Cook, turning every 5 minutes, until tender and lightly charred all over.
- Place the limes cut-side down on the braai grid and grill for about 1 minute.
- Remove the mielies from the heat and squeeze the grilled lime juice over them.
- Sprinkle with lime zest and chopped chilli, if using.
- Season with salt and black pepper and serve with any remaining butter.
