chakalaka

{{short description|South African vegetable relish}}

{{distinguish|Chachalaca}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

File:Chakalaka.jpg

File:Chakalaka meal.jpg

Chakalaka is a South African vegetable relish,{{cite book | last=Rubin | first=N. | last2=Temkin | first2=N. | title=Chic Jozi: The Jo'burg Pocketbook | publisher=Penguin Random House South Africa | year=2005 | isbn=978-1-86872-942-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J7YxVqlexHEC&pg=PA84 | access-date=November 3, 2017 | page=84 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} usually spicy, that is traditionally served with bread, pap, samp, stews, or curries. Chakalaka is said{{Cite web |last=Kitchen |first=Chef Lola's |date=2022-10-12 |title=Chakalaka {{!}} South African Food |url=https://cheflolaskitchen.com/chakalaka/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Chef Lola's Kitchen |language=en-US}} to have originated in the townships of Johannesburg or in the gold mines surrounding Johannesburg, when Mozambican mineworkers leaving their shift cooked tinned produce (tomatoes, beans) with chili to produce a spicy Portuguese-style relish to accompany pap. Many variations of Chakalaka exist, depending on region and family tradition. Some versions include beans, cabbage and butternut squash.{{Cite web|title=The Hirshon South African Chakalaka Sauce|url=https://www.thefooddictator.com/hirshon-south-african-chakalaka-sauce/|date=2017-02-26|website=✮ The Food Dictator ✮|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}} For example, canned baked beans, canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, and curry paste can be used to make the dish.{{Cite web|title=Tunza Eco-generation Eco-generation|url=https://tunza.eco-generation.org/m/view.jsp?board=ourActions&viewID=46977&searchType=&searchName=&pageNumber=5|website=tunza.eco-generation.org|access-date=2020-05-24}}

It is frequently served at a braai (barbecue) or with a Sunday lunch. It can be served cold or at room temperature.