Chakalaka
Chakalaka is a spicy South African vegetable relish of onion, carrots, capsicum and tomato, brought to life in the Thermomix. The TM7 chops the vegetables in seconds and simmers them hands-free with chilli, ginger and paprika into a chunky, fiery condiment perfect with bread, braai meats or stews.
About this recipe
Chakalaka Thermomix TM7 brings the bold, fiery soul of South African cooking straight into your kitchen with minimal effort. This spicy vegetable relish combines onion, garlic, fresh ginger, carrots and two colours of capsicum, simmered with tomato paste, paprika and bird's eye chillies into a chunky, aromatic condiment that transforms any plate. Searching for an all-in-one kitchen machine recipe that delivers restaurant-worthy flavour? The TM7 chops every vegetable evenly in seconds, so you skip the chopping board and tears entirely, then simmers the mixture hands-free while you get on with the rest of dinner. Traditionally served at braais alongside grilled meats, pap or simply spread on fresh bread, chakalaka also shines as a quick weeknight dinner accompaniment or a make-ahead relish for meal prep. The balanced heat from the chillies and the sweetness of the slow-cooked vegetables create an irresistible sweet-spicy contrast. Batch-cook a double portion and enjoy this South African classic all week long.
Preparation tips
- For a chunkier chakalaka, chop the carrots and capsicum in short pulses first and set aside before chopping the onion finer, then combine everything for cooking so each vegetable keeps its own bite.
- Sterilise jars thoroughly and fill the hot chakalaka straight from the mixing bowl, sealing immediately; the relish keeps for weeks in the fridge and makes a brilliant homemade gift alongside pap or braai bread.
- Adjust the heat to suit your table by removing the seeds from the bird's eye chillies for a milder version, or add an extra chilli and a pinch of curry powder for a fierier relish.
- Chakalaka tastes even better the next day, so make it ahead and refrigerate overnight to let the ginger, paprika and tomato flavours deepen.
Recipe variations
- Mild family version: omit the bird's eye chillies and replace them with a teaspoon of sweet smoked paprika and a diced mild pepper, keeping the same chunky carrot and capsicum texture for children.
- Festive braai variation: add a tin of baked beans and a handful of chopped courgette during the final cooking stage to turn this relish into a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs side for summer barbecues.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Chopping speed - The Thermomix chops onion, garlic and ginger in seconds without tears, saving ten minutes of knife work. [Chopping]. [Time Savings]
- Built-in scale - TM7 weighing lets you add tomato paste and olive oil directly into the bowl, gram-precise with no extra cups. [Weighing]. [Precision Control]
- Hands-free simmering - The Thermomix heats and stirs the carrots and capsicum automatically, developing deep flavour without burning. [Heating]. [Hands-Free]
- Fresh grinding - The TM7 grinds whole dried chillies and paprika into vibrant powder for maximum aromatic punch. [Grinding]. [Multi-Function]
- Even blending - Brief bursts of mixing fold the tomato paste through the vegetables into a consistent, chunky relish. [Mixing]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- brown onion
- garlic cloves
- piece fresh ginger
- carrots
- red capsicum
- green capsicum
- fresh red bird's eye chillies
- olive oil
- tomato paste
- paprika