Mauritius | Snack

Gateau Piment

Mauritius's crispy chili lentil fritters — golden outside, soft inside, with a kick of green chili and cumin.

Country
Mauritius
Region
East Africa
Time
40 min
Serves
20
Level
easy
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Recipe overview

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Gateau piment literally means "chili cake" in Mauritian Creole, and these addictive lentil fritters are found at every street corner on the island. Made from soaked yellow split peas ground with green chilies, cumin, and fresh herbs, they are deep-fried to golden perfection. They are Mauritius's answer to falafel and are typically tucked inside a buttered baguette.

What the dish tastes like

Mauritius's crispy chili lentil fritters — golden outside, soft inside, with a kick of green chili and cumin.

When to cook it

Best for everyday meals, with a easy cooking level and about 40 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Use the interactive recipe fallback or country hub to explore pairings.

Follow the collection route

Gateau Piment belongs to 2 AfroKitchen collections. Vegetarian Africa is the strongest cluster route to start from. Vegetarian Africa

Servings: 20

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How to cook it

Step-by-step instructions

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1
Grind Peas
Drain soaked split peas. Grind in a food processor to a coarse paste — not too smooth, some texture should remain.
Do not add water — the paste should be thick enough to shape. Some coarse bits add crunch.
2
Mix
Add chilies, onion, garlic, cumin, turmeric, cilantro, spring onions, salt, and baking soda to the paste. Mix well.
3
Shape
With wet hands, form small balls slightly smaller than a golf ball.
Dip your hands in water frequently — the paste is sticky.
4
Fry
Heat oil to 170C. Fry fritters in batches until deep golden brown and crispy on the outside.
Fry on medium heat so the inside cooks through before the outside burns.
Deep fry 15:00
5
Serve
Drain on paper towels. Serve hot, either plain as a snack or stuffed inside a buttered baguette.
The classic Mauritian way: split a baguette, butter it, stuff with gateau piment, and add chili sauce.

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