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{{short description|Sausage originating from South Africa}}
{{use dmy dates |date=April 2020 }}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name             = Boerewors Sausage
| image            = Boerewors raw.jpg
| image_size       = 250px
| caption          = Raw boerewors
| alternate_name   = 
| country          = [[South Africa]] [[Botswana]] [[Zimbabwe]]
| region           = 
| creator          = 
| course           = 
| served           = 
| main_ingredient  = [[Ground meat|Minced meat]]
| variations       = 
| calories         = 
}}

'''Boerewors''' ({{IPA|af|ˈbuːrəˌvɔrs|pron}}) is a type of [[sausage]] which originated in South Africa. It is an important part of [[South African cuisine|South African]], [[Setswana cuisine|Setswana]], [[Zimbabwean cuisine|Zimbabwean]] cuisine and is popular across Southern Africa. The name is derived from the [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]] words {{lang|af|boer}} (literally, a farmer) and {{lang|af|wors}} ('sausage').<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Boerewors, n. |encyclopedia=Dictionary of South African English |publisher=Dictionary Unit for South African English |url=https://www.dsae.co.za/entry/boerewors/e00992 |date=25 February 2019 }}</ref> According to South African government regulation, boerewors must contain at least 90 percent meat or fat from beef, pork, lamb or goat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regulations governing the composition and labelling of raw boerewors, raw species sausage and raw mixed-species sausage. |url=https://sampa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/formidable/2/Regulations-for-Boerewors-and-Sausage-R2718.pdf }}</ref> The other 10% is made up of spices and other ingredients. Not more than 30% of the meat content may be fat. Boerewors may not contain [[offal]] other than the casings, or any [[Mechanically separated meat|mechanically separated]] meat (as recovered through a process where meat and bone are mechanically separated).<ref name=SouthAfricaGovt1990>{{cite news|title=Regulations - Governing the Composition and Labelling of Raw Boerewors|url=http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/CityHealth/Documents/Legislation/Regulations%20-%20Governing%20the%20Composition%20and%20Labelling%20of%20Raw%20Boerewors%20-%20R%202718%20of%201990.pdf|access-date=9 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221054411/http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/CityHealth/Documents/Legislation/Regulations%20-%20Governing%20the%20Composition%20and%20Labelling%20of%20Raw%20Boerewors%20-%20R%202718%20of%201990.pdf|archive-date=21 February 2014}}</ref>

==History==
Boerewors is made from coarsely [[mincing|minced]] [[beef]], minced [[pork]], [[lamb and mutton|lamb]] and or goat. When locally available antelopes such as springbok or oryx are included, the sausage must be labeled with the species from which the meat originates.<ref name="SouthAfricaGovt1990" /> It also contains [[spice]]s (usually toasted [[coriander|coriander seed]], [[black pepper]], [[nutmeg]], [[cloves]] and [[allspice]]). Like many other forms of sausage, boerewors may contain a high proportion of fat, and is [[food preservation|preserved]] with [[salt]] and [[vinegar]], and packed in edible [[casing (sausage)|sausage casings]], which are the only part of the sausage which may be offal.<ref name="SouthAfricaGovt1990" /> Traditional boerewors is usually formed into a continuous spiral. It is often served with [[Pap (food)|pap]] (traditional South African porridge / [[polenta]] made from [[mielie-meal]]). Boerewors is also very common throughout [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]], [[Mozambique]] as well as with [[expatriate]] South African communities worldwide.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://auberginefoods.com/products/boerewors-5-lb-special-traditional-south-african-farmers-sausage?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6vWTkPL7gwMVW5ZQBh0Q7g_lEAAYAiAAEgKtRvD_BwE | title=Boerewors 5 lb Special (Traditional South African Farmers Sausage) }}</ref>

===Guinness World Record===
On 3 May 2014, the [[Guinness World Record]] for [[braai]]ing the longest boerewors in the world was broken in South Africa by Aiden.{{Who|date=August 2025}} The sausage measured {{convert|1557.15|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=2}} in length. The boerewors was distributed freely to old-age homes and the Abraham Kriel Orphanage.<ref>Radical Media - Longest single Boerewors</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=August 2025}}

== Ingredients ==

* 2kg beef (30% fat)
* 1kg fatty pork (neck, shoulder, belly)
* 45ml whole coriander seeds
* 5ml whole cloves
* 15ml fresh ground black pepper
* 2ml grated nutmeg
* 10ml ground allspice
* 10ml brown sugar
* 125ml dry red wine or 125 ml dark vinegar
* 90g thick sausage casings, soaked in water

==Preparation==
[[File:Braai Boerewors.JPG|right|thumb|Boerewors and other meat on a grill]]
Boerewors is most traditionally ''[[braai]]ed'' <ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Bianca |date=1 September 2022 |title=Dust off the braai grid and try these 11 recipes to celebrate the arrival of spring |url=https://www.food24.com/dust-off-the-braai-grid-and-try-these-11-recipes-to-celebrate-the-arrival-of-spring}}</ref> (grilled over charcoal or wood), but is often cooked under an electric grill, or roasted in an oven, or fried in a pan. When cooking Boerewors, pricking the casing will lead to the sausage losing much of the moisture and fat during cooking.{{cn|date=March 2024}}  A local variant of the hot dog is the boerewors roll,<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 September 2019 |title=RECIPE: Abi's ultimate boerie rolls 2 ways |url=https://taste.co.za/recipes/abis-ultimate-boerie-rolls-2-ways/ |publisher=Woolworths TASTE South Africa}}</ref> or "boerie" roll, which is a piece of boerewors in a [[hot dog]] bun, often served with a tomato, chili and onion [[relish]] or [[chakalaka]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 November 2019 |title=RECIPE: Chakalaka baked beans with boerewors |url=https://www.food24.com/recipe/chakalaka-baked-beans-with-boerewors-2/ |publisher=YOU magazine}}</ref> Some people prefer boerewors stew which can be prepared with mashed potatoes or pap.

==Variations==
The many varieties of boerewors include specialties such as garlic wors, ''kameeldoring'' ([[Vachellia erioloba|camel thorn]]),{{cn|date=March 2024}}{{clarify|what is relevance of kameeldoring?|date=March 2024}} ''Karoowors'' (sausage from the [[Karoo]] region in South Africa), and ''spekwors'' (made with [[speck|cubed pork fat]]). Other ingredients include cheese and chilli peppers.{{cn|date=March 2024}}{{clarify|see minimum 90% meat content does not include cheese, chili would qualify as a spice, but cheese is not listed as a permitted ingredient|date=March 2024}}

A similar sausage may also be made from the meat of different animal species, such as [[kudu]], and [[springbok]], but it may not be sold as boerewors. Instead, it is named after the predominant meat species, but only if it contains at least 75% meat from that specific species.  When a sausage is made from different types of game, it may not be labelled boerewors but must be labelled as game sausage and with the names of the game species in it.<ref name="SouthAfricaGovt1990" />

Boerewors does not keep well unrefrigerated. A similar dried or [[curing (food preservation)|cured]] sausage called [[droëwors]] is prepared instead in a process similar to the preparation of [[biltong]]. Droëwors has become popular in its own right as a snack.

In response to the modern plant-based food movement, various vegan boerewors substitutes, mostly made by small and home-based industries, have begun to appear in retailers and food markets in South Africa. They may not be labeled as boerewors.<ref name="SouthAfricaGovt1990" />

==Competitions==
The preparation and grilling of boerewors has become a fine art with many local, regional and national competitions taking place. The [[Shoprite (South Africa)|Shoprite]] supermarket chain hosts an annual competition to determine the best new preparations. The winner of this competition has the privilege of having their product/recipe manufactured and sold in all Checkers stores nationwide, under the Championship Boerewors brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.championshipboerewors.co.za/|title=Championship Boerewors - Home|website=www.championshipboerewors.co.za}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[South African cuisine]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{South African cuisine}}
{{Sausage}}

[[Category:South African cuisine]]
[[Category:Namibian cuisine]]
[[Category:Botswana cuisine]]
[[Category:Zimbabwean cuisine]]
[[Category:Zambian cuisine]]
[[Category:Fresh sausages]]
[[Category:Afrikaans words and phrases]]
[[Category:South African English]]