3 min read Food Corner

Food | Chakalaka, a versatile vegan or vegetarian South African dish

Food | Chakalaka, a versatile vegan or vegetarian South African dish

Check our recipes, always focused on colourful vegetables!

If you had the opportunity to go to South Africa, and unless you have only ordered French croissants at your hotel, you may have come across a mixture of beans to accompany any meal: it is called Chakalaka.

My father lived in Johannesburg for a few years and at his house, every day, we found a pot of freshly made chakalaka, which invariably ended up being eaten in its entirety. I thought it was a difficult dish to make and with very specific spices, until I came across a video on YouTube that shows how simple it was to make, anywhere in the world.

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We both have done it a dozen times and it's one of my husband's favourite recipes.

Ingredients for 4 generous servings

  • 1 tin baked beans in tomato sauce
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 1 green pepper, finely chopped
  • 2 large or 3 small carrots − grated
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons of curry powder
  • 1 tin of chopped, peeled tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  • vegetable or chicken stock (if using, don't add salt)
  • chili or cayenne pepper flakes (optional)
  • chopped parsley or cilantro (optional)

I could reinvent the recipe but let's not sweat it: South African Chef Siba Mtongana does it best!

Why do we love it?

  • It's super nutritious with lots of veggies and little fat
  • It's vegan (or vegetarian if you use chicken stock)
  • It's a different way to eat vegetables WITHOUT BEING SOUP
  • It's versatile as can eat it with everything. On toast, with rice, with corn porridge, with an egg on top or alongside a barbecue chicken

This weekend I did it the shakshuka way, with two eggs and 15 minutes in the oven (it should have only been 10 minutes for runnier eggs but forgot it, oops!) and it made for an amazing breakfast. It also provides several servings and it is amazing for meal prep.

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