skilpadjies

{{More citations needed|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox food

| name = Skilpadjies

| image =

| caption =

| alternate_name = {{lang| af|muise}}, {{lang| af|vlermuise}}

| country = South Africa

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| type = Braai (Barbecue)

| course =

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| main_ingredient = lamb, caul fat, coriander, chopped onion, salt and Worcestershire sauce

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| serving_size = 100 g

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Skilpadjies is a traditional South African food, also known by other names such as {{lang| af|muise}} and {{lang| af|vlermuise}}.

The dish is lamb's liver wrapped in {{lang| af|netvet}} (caul fat), which is the fatty membrane that surrounds the kidneys. Most cooks mince the liver, add coriander, chopped onion, salt and Worcestershire sauce then wrap balls of this mixture with the {{lang| af|netvet}} and secure it with a toothpick. The balls, approximately {{convert|80|mm|abbr=on}} in diameter, are normally barbecued (grilled over an open fire) and ready when the fat is crisp.

Dishes such as skilpadjies had already been made by the ancient Romans{{or inline|date=September 2020}}

{{cite book

|last= Flower

|first= Barbara

|authorlink=

|author2=Rosenbaum

|title= The Roman Cookery Book; A Critical translation of The Art of Cooking by Apicius

|year= 1958

|publisher= Peter Nevil LTD

|location= London & New York

|isbn=

}} and the German recipe for calf's liver in caul fat appears in the book "Das Buoch von guoter Spise".{{or inline|date=September 2020}}

{{cite book

|last= Van Winter

|first= Johanna

|authorlink=

|title= Van Soeter Cokene. Recepten uit de romeinse en middeleeuwse keuken

|year= 1976

|publisher= Haarlem/Bussum

|location=

|isbn=

}}

The names {{lang| af|skilpadjie}} (little tortoise), {{lang| af|muise}} (mice), {{lang| af|vlermuise}} (bats) and {{lang| af|pofadder}} (puff adder) reflect its appearance. {{lang| af|Pofadder}} is the largest version, the size of a large sausage. It is made from minced lamb's liver wrapped in a large piece of {{lang| af|netvet}}, and is usually served at parties where about 8 to 10 servings can be sliced from one {{lang| af|pofadder}} when grilled.

It is a very rich, high cholesterol and fatty food; the consumers normally eat some starchy food in the form of mealie pap or toasted bread with the skilpadjies, so as not to attract some symptoms of over-indulgence.