African Snacks and Finger Foods


Who can resist a tasty treat when you get the craving. These African snacks are not only appetizing, but many are healthy and guilt-free for those who are serious about watching their waistlines.

Durban Bunny ChowBunny Chow
African Chapati SnackChapati
Rice and Vegetable FrittersRice and Vegetable Fritters

African snacks range from sweet to savory, exotic to traditional, crunchy to smooth. There's something to satisfy every palate.

One of our favorite go-to snacks is chapati. Chapati is a popular African street snack and is  similar to tortilla bread. They not only make a great snack, but they can also be served with a meal and they are SO EASY to make.


How to Cook the Best Chapatis for Snacking


Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour 
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Water
  • Oil

African Chapati Snack

Instructions

  1. Mix flour and salt in a bowl. 
  2. Stir in  enough water to make the dough elastic, but not sticky. 
  3. Knead the dough until it is smooth. Add oil and form a ball.
  4. Cover the bowl with a towel and let sit for 30 minutes.
  5. Roll out dough on a floured surface.
  6. Divide into 8-10 pieces.
  7. Roll each piece into a ball.
  8. Roll each ball out on a floured surface to form a circle with even thickness like a tortilla.
  9. Heat a frying pan over medium heat.
  10. Cook each chapati in the pan till the underside in browned and then flip.
  11. Repeat for remaining dough.
  12. Slice into wedges or serve whole.

Want to snack on a healthy portion of fruit or vegetables? Then, fritters may be the perfect choice for you. There are a wide range of fritter recipes, but let's start with a simple rice and vegetable fritter. This recipe offers lots of opportunity for you to be creative and make a custom dish with your favorite fruits and veggies. 

Rice and Vegetable Fritters

Rice and Vegetable Fritters

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cooked white rice
  • 1/2 cup chopped mushroom
  • 1/2 cup chopped peppers
  • 1 cup cooked black beans
  • 1/2 cup sweet corn
  • 1 cup grated zucchini or okra
  • 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1 egg
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients except for oil
  2. Press into flat patties
  3. Fry in skillet till brown on both sides
  4. Serve alone or with dip


NOTE: You can substitute any vegetables you like or use equal amounts of chopped fruit with the rice and add sugar instead of spice to make rice and fruit fritters instead.


For a comfort snack that's packed with flavour, you must try a serving of bunny chow. You can't beat scoops of hot spicy curry served in a hollowed out chunk of bread. It's both satisfying and delicious. You could even call it a meal.

How to Prepare Durban Bunny Chow

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf of bread
  • 1-2 lbs cubed lamb, beef, or chicken
  • 1 tsp minced ginger
  • 4 finely chopped garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp crushed green chillies
  • 2 medium chopped tomatoes
  • 1 medium chopped onion
  • 2 large cubed potatoes
  • 1/2 cup oil

Spices

  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tbs curry powder
  • 2-3 curry leaves
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 lightly crushed cardamom pods
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons turmeric
  • 2 tbs garam masala
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Cook curry ingredients and pour into hollowed out bread to serve.


Durban Bunny Chow

Did You Know?

Bunny Chow has a not so sweet past. In fact, the name has nothing to do with bunnies. It is actually a derogatory term.

Learn more about the history of bunny chow here.

More African Snacks

  • Dabo Kolo
  • Kapana
  • Fried Plantain Chips
  • African Egg Rolls
  • Chin Chin
  • Bhajia

  • African Samosa
  • South African Biltong
  • Mandazi
  • Puff Puff
  • Moin Moin
  • African Fish Rolls


Want regular updates on African cuisines and food recipes? What about unique health information about these foods - what to eat and avoid to keep healthy from the list of African recipes available? 

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