Recipes from Southern Africa: Chakalaka

Chakalaka is one of the most uniquely South African dishes. The usually spicy vegetable relish is popular all over South Africa and comes in many variations (see Jodi-Ann Pearton's version or KitchenCOZA's version) depending on region and, of course, family traditions. Most Chakalaka versions include onions, garlic, chillies, curry (power or paste), tomatoes and beans. It is traditionally served with meat, pap, bread or stews. Capetonian chef Funi presents his version in the video below. Enjoy! Kudos Funi! To get the recipe for Funi's Chakalaka click here!

Recipes from Southern Africa: Chakalaka

Chakalaka is one of the most South African dishes. The spicy vegetable relish, which may have originated in the townships of Johannesburg, is traditionally served with meat, pap, bread or stews. There is no fixed recipe for a Chakalaka; Chef Jodi-Ann Pearton's version in the video below is one of the countless variations of the dish. Enjoy! Kudos Jodi-Ann Pearton and Darling Lama Productions!



Ingredients:

• 3 chopped onions
• 3 grated carrots
• 2 chopped green peppers
• 3 chopped tomatoes
• 50ml tomato paste
• 100ml oil
• 45ml curry powder*
• 5ml tumeric
• 15g salt & pepper
• 1 chopped green chili
• 5g chili powder
• 125ml water

*it seems that 45ml curry are equivalent to 3 tablespoons

Southern African recipes: Bobotie Burger

A while back we posted Heston Blumenthal's boerewors burger recipe on this blog. Now I found another great South African take on a traditional burger - the Bobotie Burger. The food editor of the South African newspaper "Sunday Times", Hillary Biller, presented the recipe on Expresso, a morning show aired on SABC3.



Ingredients:

• 1 thick sliced white bread, crusts removed
• 250ml (1 cup) milk
• 30ml (2Tbs) oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 30ml (2Tbs) curry powder
• 1kg beef mince
• Salt and black pepper
• 10 dried apricots, soaked in boiling water for 30 minutes
• 1 extra large egg
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon

Method:

• Soak the bread in milk. Heat the oil and fry the onion till soft. Add the curry powder and fry till fragrant. Remove from heat.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the mince with the onion and curry mixture. Season generously. Using your hands squeeze out the milk from the bread, reserving the milk, and add the softened bread to the mince and mix through.
• Remove apricots from water and chop finely. Add to mince. Combine the egg and served milk and add to mince with lemon zest and juice.
• Using wet hands, shape the mince into 12 burger patties. Place on a tray and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. In a non-stick pan fry the patties in a little oil for 8-10 minutes and turn and cook on the other side. Serve in rolls topped with fried onions, tomato slices and Mrs Ball’s chutney. (via expressolive.tv)

If you want to serve your Bobotie Burger with Sweet Potato Chips, visit the website of the Expresso Morning Show, click on Food, register yourself and scroll through their various South African and international recipes.

Southern African recipes: Boerewors

Boerewors - a spicy sausage that no self respecting South African Braai can be without, if you can't make it yourself, ask your local butcher to make some for you.

Ingredients:
• 1.5kg beef
• 1.5kg pork
• 500g bacon, diced
• 25ml salt
• 5ml ground pepper
• 50ml ground coriander
• 2ml freshly grated nutmeg
• 1ml ground cloves
• 2ml ground dried thyme
• 2ml ground allspice
• 125ml red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 50ml Worcestershire sauce
• 85g sausage casings

Method:
1. Cut the beef and pork meat into 1.5 " cubes and mix it with all the other ingredients except the sausage casings.
2. Grind the meat using a medium-course grinding plate
3. Fill the sausage casings firmly but not too tightly with the meat mixture.
4. Can be fried, grilled or barbecued over coals.
Makes 3.5 kg

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