• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Vegan Heaven

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Going Vegan
  • About
    • About Me
    • Impressum
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Tumblr
    • Twitter
  • ×
    • a grey plate with black bean pasta with bell pepper, lime wedges, and fresh cilantro on a wooden board
      Black Bean Pasta
    • yellow curry with bell pepper and carrots over brown rice in a grey bowl
      Yellow Curry
    • a blue and white bowl with millet porridge with a spoon with a pear and a cup of coffee in the background
      Millet Porridge
    • turmeric energy balls in a blue bowl with a glass of smoothie in the background
      Ginger Turmeric Energy Balls
    • a cast iron skillet with pasta with bell pepper on a white wooden board
      Vegan Pasta Rasta
    • Vegan Lentil Soup in two white and brown pots on a marble counter top with a spoon and bread on the side
      Vegan Lentil Soup
    • Vegan Parmesan cheese in a glass jar with a white spoon on a wooden board
      Vegan Parmesan Cheese
    • vegan dal with rice in a white bowl with a spoon on a marble countertop
      Red Lentil Dal
    • a pot with one pot pasta with leek and tofu on a marble countertop
      One Pot Pasta with Leek and Smoked Tofu
    • a cast iron pan with Tuscan pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach on a white wooden board
      Vegan Tuscan Pasta
    • vegetable biryani in a white pan on a wooden board with parsley and mint in the background
      Vegetable Biryani
    • five vegan zucchini bread slices on a marble counter top with more zucchini bread on a wooden board in the background and chocolate chips on the side
      Vegan Zucchini Bread

    Chakalaka

    Published: Apr 11, 2023 by Sina · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This chakalaka is a flavourful relish that originally comes from South Africa. It’s spicy, tangy, and packed with fresh vegetables and beans. I think it’s best with crispy bread, but it’s also great with couscous, brown rice, or millet. 

    Chakalaka in a green bowl with a spoon on a wooden board

    Why This Recipe Works

    Chakalaka is a vegetable relish that comes from South Africa. History suggests that is was a staple for people who lived in the townships of Johannesburg or worked on the gold mines surrounding Johannesburg. 

    It’s traditionally served with bread, stews, or pap, a kind of porridge. But the recipe is super versatile and you can serve it with basically any meal. It’s also great with barbecues.  

    Traditional ingredients are carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, and baked beans. There are many variations of chakalaka, but almost all recipes call for baked beans. They make this recipe filling and at the same time add a nice sweetness that goes well with the bell peppers and cabbage. 

    Chakalaka is usually spicy, but I love that you can easily make it as spicy or mild as you like. Just adjust the amount of chili powder to your personal liking. 

    I like to serve it with crusty bread, couscous, millet, or even brown rice. It’s a simple and flavorful one pot recipe that is vegan and gluten-free. You can serve it warm or cold. 

    What Goes Into This Recipe 

    the ingredients that go into this recipe on a marble countertop

    • Carrots
    • Bell Pepper – I used a green and a red one. 
    • Cabbage
    • Onion & Garlic
    • Ginger 
    • Tomatoes – canned diced tomatoes. 
    • Baked Beans
    • Vegetable Broth – use organic vegetable broth or my homemade paste for vegetable broth. 
    • Spices – curry powder, sweet paprika powder, chili powder, thyme, and smoked paprika powder. 
    • Salt & Black Pepper 

    How To Make This Recipe 

    a collage of four photos that show how to make this recipe

    1. Step: Dice the bell peppers. 

    2. Step: Cut the cabbage into thin strips. Cut the carrots into half moons. 

    3. Step: Finely chop the onion, garlic, and ginger. 

    4. Step: Heat some oil in a large pot and sauté the onion, garlic, and ginger for 3 minutes or until the onion is translucent. 

    a collage of four photos that show how to make this recipe

    5. Step: Add the spices and stir well. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. 

    6. Step: Add the bell peppers, carrots, and cabbage.

    7. Step: Stir and cook for 10 minutes on medium heat. 

    8. Step: Add the diced tomatoes and the baked beans. Cook for 10 minutes on low heat and season with salt and pepper. 

    Recipe Notes

    • Butternut squash is also a great addition to this recipe. You could also use freshly diced tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes. 
    • Traditional Chakalaka recipes call for canned baked beans. It adds a nice sweetness to the recipe. But you could also use canned white beans or even chickpeas. 

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How Long Does This Recipe Last? 

    Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, it will last up to 5 days. 

    Chakalaka in a pot on a white wooden board

    Related Recipes 

    • Jackfruit Buffalo Dip
    • Chipotle Sauce 
    • Sweet Potato Fries Dipping Sauce 
    • Creamy Vegan Dip with Dates 
    • Roasted Red Pepper Hummus 

    I Love To Hear From You!

    I hope you like this chakalaka as much as we do around here.

    If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to know what you think about it. Just leave me a comment and a star rating below. Your comments really make my day!

    You like my recipes and want to see more? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest! 

    Sina

     

    Chakalaka in a green bowl on a wooden board with a spoon

    Chakalaka

    This chakalaka is a flavourful relish that originally comes from South Africa. It's spicy, tangy, and packed with fresh vegetables and beans. I think it's best with crispy bread, but it's also great with couscous, brown rice, or millet. 
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Side
    Cuisine: South-African
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 25 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 197kcal
    Author: Sina

    Ingredients

    • 2 onions, finely chopped
    • 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely chopped
    • 2 teaspoons curry powder
    • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
    • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
    • 2 carrots, cut into half moons
    • 1 red bell pepper, diced
    • 1 green bell pepper, diced
    • 7 oz cabbage
    • 1 can baked beans
    • 1 can diced tomatoes
    • 2 teaspoons vegetable broth powder or paste
    • black pepper, to taste
    • salt, to taste

    Instructions

    • Dice the bell peppers. 
    • Cut the cabbage into thin strips. Cut the carrots into half moons. 
    • Finely chop the onion, garlic, and ginger. 
    • Heat some oil in a large pot and sauté the onion, garlic, and ginger for 3 minutes or until the onion is translucent. 
    • Add the spices and stir well. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. 
    • Then add the bell peppers, carrots, and cabbage.
    • Stir and cook for 10 minutes on medium heat. 
    • Add the diced tomatoes and the baked beans. Cook for 10 minutes on low heat and season with salt and pepper. 

    Notes

    • Butternut squash is also a great addition to this recipe. You could also use freshly diced tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes. 
    • Traditional Chakalaka recipes call for canned baked beans. It adds a nice sweetness to the recipe. But you could also use canned white beans or even chickpeas. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 583mg | Potassium: 812mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4318IU | Vitamin C: 67mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @_veganheaven_ or tag #veganheaven!
    Rate the recipe!If you like this recipe, please leave a good rating! This will help other readers.

     

    More Recipes

    • a white bowl with green bean salad with tomatoes and kidney beans on a wooden board
      Green Bean Salad
    • a grey bowl with spinach tomato pasta on a wooden board
      Spinach Tomato Pasta
    • a grey bowl with brown rice, lettuce, guacamole, and sofritas with a fork
      Sofritas
    • a lemon olive oil cake on a marble board with a bowl of strawberries in the background
      Lemon Olive Oil Cake

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Tumblr
    • Twitter
    Sina-Veganheaven

    Hi, I'm Sina and this is my recipe blog where I share heavenly simple and sinfully delicious vegan recipes.

    Popular Recipes

    • Lemon Spaghetti with Spinach
      Lemon Spaghetti with Spinach (One Pot)
    • One Pan Mexican Quinoa in a black pot on a white wooden countertop with limes and parsley on the side
      One Pan Mexican Quinoa
    • a hand eating roasted chickpeas out of a small white bowl on a marble counter top
      Roasted Chickpeas
    • Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe (Vegan)
      Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe (Vegan)
    • Vegan meatballs with Spaghetti
      Vegan Meatballs with Spaghetti
    • Creamy Vegan One Pot Pasta (Asian Style)
      Creamy Vegan One Pot Pasta (Asian Style)

    Grilling

    • six grilled vegetable kabobs on a white plate on a marble countertop sprinkled with fresh herbs
      Vegetable Kabobs
    • Black Bean Patties (Vegan & Grillable)
      Vegan Black Bean Burgers (Grillable!)
    • Vegan Potato Salad with Pickles in a Bowl
      Vegan Potato Salad
    • a hand dipping a piece of bread into a bowl of vegan dip
      Creamy Vegan Dip with Dates
    • two tofu vegetables skewers with pineapple and red bell pepper on a plate with brown rice
      Tofu Vegetable Skewers
    • a stack of lentil burgers on a white plate with a bowl of salad in the background
      Lentil Burgers
    Sina Weber, Blogger

    About Sina

    As a mom of twins, I know how busy life can be. So if you're looking for easy and quick vegan recipes the whole family loves, this is the right place for you!

    Learn more about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Lemon Spaghetti with Spinach
      Lemon Spaghetti with Spinach (One Pot)
    • One Pan Mexican Quinoa in a black pot on a white wooden countertop with limes and parsley on the side
      One Pan Mexican Quinoa
    • a hand eating roasted chickpeas out of a small white bowl on a marble counter top
      Roasted Chickpeas
    • Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe (Vegan)
      Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe (Vegan)
    • Vegan meatballs with Spaghetti
      Vegan Meatballs with Spaghetti
    • Creamy Vegan One Pot Pasta (Asian Style)
      Creamy Vegan One Pot Pasta (Asian Style)

    Healthy Recipes

    • Greek Pasta Salad in a Bowl with a Salad Server
      Greek Pasta Salad with Easy Greek Vinaigrette
    • a white bowl with quinoa black bean salad on a marble countertop with limes in the background
      Quinoa Black Bean Salad
    • a grey bowl with brown rice, lettuce, guacamole, and sofritas with a fork
      Sofritas
    • Chickpea Salad in a white bowl with a wooden spoon and two lemons in the background
      Vegan Chickpea Salad
    • Vegan Pad Thai on a white plate with limes in the background and a hand picking up some noodles with chop sticks
      Vegan Pad Thai
    • Easy Vegan Chickpea Curry with Potatoes
      Easy Vegan Chickpea Curry

    Footer

    Impressum/Legal Notice
    Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Tumblr
    • Twitter

    Affiliate Disclaimer:

    Some posts may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and actually decide to buy it, I’ll receive a small percentage of the total price - of course this does not cause any extra costs for you. I only recommend products that I personally love and use regularly.

    Copyright © 2025 by Vegan Heaven · Privacy Policy