South African Spiced Veggies
Cauliflower rubbed with a chakalaka mix characterized by a spicy seasoning of crushed chili and fragrant spices is a delicious, distinctive and a fabulous addition to your dinner table. Paired with a cooling mint sauce, you can serve this as a side or as I have with couscous, to make a healthy dinner.
Chakalaka—a South African dish made by Mozambican mine workers in the Johannesburg area is typically made with beans, carrots, tomatoes, onions and peppers. It is often served as a relish to add zing to other dishes like stews or pap. It is also a typical addition to a South African braai or cookout as the relish adds nice pop to grilled meats.
I love to BE BRAVE and experiment with new flavors and spices from around the world, sometimes using them in traditional recipes and other times experimenting with them.
In this recipe, I use the spice mix as a rub over my favorite vegetable – cauliflower along with some peppers and serve with couscous and a minty yogurt sauce to balance the spice.
So, take your tastebuds around the world and visit South Africa with these Chakalaka seasoned vegetables.
Spicy Chakalaka Seasoned Vegetables
Ingredients
(* indicates my preferred ingredients – see notes for alternatives)
1 head cauliflower
3 multi-colored bell peppers (red, orange, and yellow0
1 bulb garlic
3 tablespoons O&V Garlic EVOO *
1 -2 tablespoons O&V Chakalaka Dip Seasoning * (see Chef Note)
2 cups prepared Couscous (see Chef Note)
1 cup of mint leaves (about 1 bunch, put aside a few for garnishing)
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
Discard the outer leaves from the cauliflower and cut it into quarters. Quarter and deseed the peppers, remove and discard the seeds. Break the garlic bulb into cloves, and remove the skins.
Mix the chakalaka seasoning with the oil, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix and toss all the vegetables in the mixture and then place on the prepared baking sheet.
Place in the oven for 25 minutes, then remove from the oven, stir well and return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes until cauliflower is tender, crispy and golden brown at the edges.
In the meantime, cook the couscous according to package directions (see Chef Note), when ready, fluff the couscous with a fork and keep warm.
Place the mint leaves in a small food processor (reserve a few for garnishing) with half the Greek yogurt and process till smooth. Add salt to taste, and swirl back into the plain yogurt to create a rippled effect.
Serve the roasted garlic and vegetables with the couscous. Top with minted yogurt, sprinkle with the remaining mint leaves and serve.
Serves 4
Active time 25 minutes Total Time: 50 minutes
Chef Note
Make the couscous using a flavorful chicken or vegetable broth along with a little EVOO and even a pat of butter. This will all give the couscous great taste
Use the Chakalaka dip seasoning mix to make this recipe, or also use it as a rub on chicken or beef before grilling. Another delicious use is to mix the seasoning in with sour cream and mayonnaise to create a spicy dip or sandwich spread.
Notes
* The Garlic EVOO adds another nice layer of flavor to the vegetables, but the Chakalaka Seasoning mix is really the star of this dish. Most Oil & Vinegar stores carry this seasoning mix, but you can also look for a high-quality mix from other vendors or substitute with Patatas Bravas mix
Categories: Entrée, Gluten Free Option, Roasted Cauliflower, Chakalaka Vegetables, Garlic EVOO, South African Flavors, Plant Based Meal, Weeknight Dinner, Meatless Monday, Chakalaka Seasoning, Relish, Condiment, Minty Yogurt Sauce, Couscous, Patatas Bravas
