Chakalaka Recipe A South African Condiment

Chakala is a sweet and spicy vegetable relish that is really popular in South Africa. Sometimes called Soweto chilli as it originates from the townships there.

Originally, it was made as a quick meal to go with pap. Today, it is eaten with barbecue meats at a Brai or just as a side condiment.

We were shown how to make this recipe by Abigail Mbalo, a South African chef and restauranter of 4roomed at a recent South African cooking event.

She told us that this is one of those recipes that you don’t need the exact ingredients for. You just measure by eye. As you can imagine, every home will make this in a different way. So feel free to add or subtract more of the spices to your taste.

It is very quick to make and in less than 30 minutes, we had made a delicious pot of this delicious Chakalaka that fed 20 people.

2 onions sliced
1 tsp chilli powder or to taste
1 tsp curry powder or to taste
3 cloves crushed garlic
1 tbsp grated ginger
tomato puree
1 each red/yellow peppers, sliced
1 carrot, grated
Mrs Balls Peach Chutney or equivalent
One can of baked beans
coriander for garnish

Prepare all the vegetables, slice the onions, grate the carrots, slice the peppers, grate ginger, crush garlic.
Fry onions, chilli powder, ginger and garlic, the peppers in some oil until soft.
Add the baked beans and a squeeze of tomato puree, heat through.
Add a generous dollop of the Mrs Ball’s Peach chutney, to taste.
Cook for a bit more until all the flavours are blended.
Serve in a bowl if you are eating it immediately or keep it in a sterilised jar.

Chakalaka can be eaten hot or cold.

You can experience the real flavours of South African townships when you visit, more details here: Township Tours at https://www.southafrica.net/

EatCookExplore was a guest of South Africa Tourism.