Recipe at a glance
Category: African Cuisine / Side Dishes
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4–6 people
Difficulty: Easy
About this recipe
Chakalaka is a much-loved South African vegetable relish made with onions, tomatoes, peppers, carrots and aromatic spices. It is known for its bold flavours and gentle heat, making it the perfect companion to pap, braai meat, grilled chicken or freshly baked bread.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 2 medium carrots, grated
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tin (410g) baked beans
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp chilli powder (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
- ½ cup water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the vegetables
Chop the onions, peppers and tomatoes. Grate the carrots and set everything aside.
Step 2: Fry the onions
Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until soft and translucent.
Step 3: Add the peppers and carrots
Add the green pepper, red pepper and grated carrots. Cook for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Add the spices
Stir in the curry powder, paprika, chilli powder, garlic powder, black pepper and salt. Allow the spices to release their aroma.
Step 5: Add tomatoes
Add the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir well and cook for another 5–7 minutes until the tomatoes soften.
Step 6: Add baked beans
Pour in the baked beans and half a cup of water. Stir gently and simmer for 10–15 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the flavours have combined.
Step 7: Serve
Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve warm or allow it to cool and enjoy as a cold relish.
Uhuru Spice Recommendation
Bring your chakalaka to life with:
- Uhuru Curry Powder
- Uhuru Paprika
- Uhuru Chilli Powder
- Uhuru Garlic Powder
Serving Suggestions
Chakalaka tastes wonderful with:
- Traditional pap and braai meat.
- Grilled chicken.
- Boerewors and steak.
- Freshly baked bread.
- Rice and roasted vegetables.
Chef’s Tip
For an extra-rich flavour, prepare your chakalaka a day ahead and refrigerate it overnight. The spices will develop beautifully, making it even more delicious the next day.