Skilpadjies facts for kids
| Alternative names | muise, vlermuise and pofadder |
|---|---|
| Type | Braai (Barbecue) |
| Place of origin | South Africa |
| Main ingredients | lamb, caul fat, coriander, chopped onion, salt and Worcestershire sauce |
Skilpadjies are a special and traditional South African food. People also call them by other fun names like muise (which means mice) or vlermuise (which means bats). This unique dish is often cooked on a barbecue, also known as a braai in South Africa.
Contents
What Are Skilpadjies Made Of?
Skilpadjies are made from lamb's liver. The liver is wrapped in something called netvet. Netvet is a special fatty layer that surrounds the kidneys of an animal.
How Skilpadjies Are Prepared
Most cooks will first mince, or finely chop, the lamb's liver. Then, they mix it with tasty ingredients like coriander, chopped onion, salt, and Worcestershire sauce.
After mixing, they shape the liver mixture into small balls. These balls are then carefully wrapped with the netvet. A small toothpick is often used to hold the netvet in place around the ball.
The balls are usually about 80 millimeters (about 3 inches) wide. They are traditionally cooked on a barbecue, over an open fire. They are ready to eat when the fatty netvet wrapping becomes nice and crispy.
Why the Funny Names?
The names for this dish are quite interesting! Skilpadjie means "little tortoise" in Afrikaans. Other names include muise (which means mice) and vlermuise (which means bats). These names come from how the dish looks when it's cooked.
The Big Pofadder
There is also a much larger version of this dish called pofadder. A pofadder is a type of snake. This bigger version can be as large as a person's forearm!
To make a pofadder, minced lamb's liver is wrapped in a very big piece of netvet. It's usually served at parties. One large pofadder can be sliced into about 8 to 10 servings once it's grilled.
Eating Skilpadjies Safely
Skilpadjies are a very rich food. They contain a lot of fat and can be high in cholesterol. Because of this, people usually eat them with other foods.
It's common to eat skilpadjies with starchy foods. This might be a type of maize porridge called mealie pap. Sometimes, people also eat them with toasted bread. Eating them with these other foods helps to balance the meal.
