I grew up with a lot of traditional South African dishes including samosas and onion fritters (my Gran makes the best onion fritters. I need to dig out the old recipe book and attempt them soon). What stood out was the chilli bite, I absolutely loved them and this is my version of the traditional daltjie.
A daltjie is a Cape Malay version of the Indian bhaji. It is usually served at the breaking of the fast in Ramadan but can be eaten as a snack at any time. They are a true comfort food and pair very well with some Mrs Balls Chutney or my mint raita.
Chilli bites usually consists of gram flour (chickpea flour), spices, chilli and spinach that has been finely chopped. The traditional ones that I have had over the years have a very soft interior and a crispy exterior. Over the years my family have adapted the recipe and we now add a huge amount of spinach to the mix because we prefer a less spongy interior and love the extra crispness the additional spinach provides when fried.
Make sure that when frying you keep the temperature of the oil on medium to ensure the chilli bites are cooked all the way through and you get that essential crispy exterior.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission on items you decide to buy through the link. There is no cost to you and this allows me to continue creating great content for you.
Leave a Reply