In partnership with PAKCO
The difficult part of making chilli bites is convincing me to leave enough for everyone else.
At Shovanie Devraj’s family home near Durban, we made them with PAKCO Chilli Bite Mix. Proper savoury chilli bites, with crisp, golden edges and a soft centre. The pleasure starts with that first crunch and bite, then the spicing opens up and the chilli leaves its warmth behind. Small things, a lot of flavour.
Also known as bhajias, chilli bites belong to South Africa’s Indian food vocabulary. They are savoury fritters traditionally made with pea flour, chilli and vegetables. Remarkably, PAKCO Chilli Bite Mix was already being used in South African kitchens in the 1960s.
I love that detail. Long before anyone was saving a recipe reel, PAKCO was already helping people make these at home. Its place in our kitchens stretches back through generations. That is heritage you can actually cook with.
We were cooking ahead of Diwali, when food becomes part of a wider exchange of generosity. In Durban, trays of sweetmeats are shared with relatives, friends and neighbours. Savouries bring another flavour to the gathering, and a plate of chilli bites is an excellent contribution.
PAKCO’s mix gives you a tried-and-tested starting point. Follow the pack instructions, make a batch to share and serve them while the edges still have that lovely crunch. Put some PAKCO Hot Vegetable Atchar alongside for anyone who enjoys a tangy, fiery addition. Let people decide how much they want.
What matters to me is that this is something people can actually do. You don’t have to take charge of an entire celebration to participate in it.
Learn one dish. Help with the cooking. Take a plate to someone’s home.
That is how a familiar flavour gets another person making it, and another table has something worth gathering around.
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