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Vetkoek with spicy chakalaka and cheddar cheese

Golden, fluffy vetkoek filled with spicy chakalaka and melted cheese is the kind of comfort food that never goes out of style.

Vetkoeks are soft on the inside, crisp on the outside, and versatile enough to enjoy sweet or savoury. One of the most loved fillings, however, is a spicy chakalaka, topped with grated cheese that melts into the warm bread. Recipe compliments of Lancewood.

Ingredients

Chakalaka:

  • 2 tbsp sunflower oil, or canola
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 2 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 cm fresh ginger, minced
  • 2 small chillies, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 peppers, each yellow, green and red pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and grated
  • 1 small green cabbage, shredded
  • 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 400 g tin of baked beans
  • 2 tbsp double cream plain yoghurt
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme

Vetkoek:

  • 750 ml self-raising flour
  • 5ml salt
  • 500 ml double cream plain yoghurt
  • oil, for deep frying

Garnish:

125 ml Lancewood grated cheddar

Method

Chakalaka:

  1. 1. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add the oil. Sauté the onion until soft and translucent.
  2. 2. Add the garlic, ginger, and chillies, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the curry powder, paprika, and salt, and toast the spices for 2 minutes.
  3. 3. Add the peppers and cabbage, and cook for 4–5 minutes until they begin to soften. Stir in the carrots and tomatoes, and cook for another 2–3 minutes.
  4. 4. Finally, add the baked beans and thyme. Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Vetkoek:

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the self-raising flour and salt.
  2. Add the yoghurt and mix to form a soft dough. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. Divide and shape into 12 balls.
  3. Heat about 4 cm of oil in a deep frying pan. Fry the vetkoek gently for 4–5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean. Drain on absorbent paper.
  4. Slice the vetkoek open and fill with chakalaka and grated cheddar. Serve immediately.

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I'm an experienced writer, sub-editor, and media & public relations specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the media industry – across digital, print, TV, and radio. I earned a diploma in Journalism and Print Media from leading institution, Damelin College, with distinctions (Journalism And Print Media, Media Studies, Technical English And Communications, South African Studies, African & International Studies, Technology in Journalism, Journalism II & Practical Journalism). I also hold a qualification in Investigative Journalism from Print Media SA, First Aid Training from St John’s Ambulance, as well as certificates in Learning to Write Marketing Copy, Planning a Career in User Experience, and Writing a Compelling Blog Post.

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