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Gateaux piments – chilli dhal fritters

by Selina Periampillai
  1. Gateaux piments - chilli dhal fritters
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If you're a fan of falafel, then you're going to love these Mauritian dhal fritters. Known as gateaux piments, these lentil-filled fried balls are packed with the flavours of tangy spring onion, fresh coriander and fiery green chilli. They're great served as a light snack or starter, or crushed inside a crisp white baguette for lunch. The Island Kitchen by Selina Periampillai (Bloomsbury, £26.00) is out now. Photography by Yuki Sugiura, 2019.

First published in 2019
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These crunchy, spicy lentil balls, similar to falafel or Indian vada, are one of the most popular street food snacks, or gajacks, in Mauritius. Yellow split peas are soaked in water overnight so they plump up and are easier to crush. They are then spiked with plenty of green chillies and fresh coriander before being rolled into small balls and deep fried. Eat them straight away!

Ingredients

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Method

1
Place the yellow split peas in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Leave to sit overnight and soak
2
The peas should have puffed up slightly and the water reduced by the next morning. Drain them well and tip into a food processor. Blitz until the peas are a coarse paste and clump together. Tip the crushed peas into a large mixing bowl and add all the other ingredients apart from the oil. Combine well with a spoon
3
Take a tablespoon of the mixture in your hands and, pressing firmly, form into a ball shape (about the size of a golf ball). Each will weigh around 25g and you should get 25 balls. Repeat with the remaining mixture and place them all on a plate ready to be fried
4
Pour the vegetable oil into a deep, heavy-based saucepan or deep-fat fryer and heat to 180°C/gas mark 4. You can tell when the oil is the right temperature by dropping a small cube of bread into the oil. If it browns evenly in 30 seconds then it is ready. When the oil is hot enough, carefully drop in the balls (about four or five at a time, to prevent overcrowding in the pan)
5
The fritters should sizzle in the oil. Using a fork or a slotted spoon gently move them around so they colour evenly. It will take a couple of minutes until they are golden brown and cooked throughout. If they brown too quickly, reduce the heat slightly to make sure they cook inside
6
Drain on a wire rack with kitchen paper underneath to catch any excess oil and then serve
First published in 2019
Selina Periampillai

Selina Periampillai is a British-born Mauritian food pioneer, self-taught chef and author of The Island Kitchen.

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