Using your Weber as a smoker is a great option if you’re looking to up your braai game. Here’s how to get that awesome smokiness, tender meat and a rich flavour that’s difficult to beat.
What you need:
Aside from briquettes and firelighters all you really need to turn your Weber into a smoker are some hard wood chips and water. You can buy smoking chips in hardware stores and you might even find some chips suitable in your own garden. Wine barrel chips work well too.

What to do:

1. Soak your wood chips in liquid: once you’ve lit your fire, as you’re waiting for your coals to be ready, soak your wood chips in liquid. Try using water, tea or beer and soak for approximately 30 minutes. If your chips are more like chunks you might need to soak them for longer.
2. Arrange your coals: when your coals have turned from black to grey and are ready to cook over, arrange them all around the drip tray (you will be using the indirect cooking method).
3. Place your wood chips onto the coals: shake away any excess liquid and place a handful of soaked wood chips straight onto the coals. You can also use moistened fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme or bay leaves.
4. Start cooking: place your food on the cooking grid and close the lid. Remember not to lift the lid often – this will only prolong the cooking time and let out the heat and smokiness.

Here we smoked a chicken (just basted in olive oil and salt and pepper) for approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes. Check out that glorious golden colour.
Top tips for smoking:
Use a meat thermometer: test whether your smoked food is done. Smoked foods can look quite different to what you are used to. For example, a smoked chicken can look a red colour when cooked. Check out a selection of meat thermometers.

Don’t use lighter fluid: this might flavour your food.

Don’t go overboard on the wood: start with just a handful and then experiment depending on your taste. Too much wood smoke over long periods can make food taste bitter.

Weber have a nifty smoking chart, check it out and the smoking world is your oyster.

You might also like:
Weber basics:  how to light the perfect fire in your Weber
Weber basics: direct cooking vs indirect
View the full Weber range on Yuppiechef.co.za
Up your braai game with some of these braai recipes