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Diphaphata
Diphaphata: Botswana's yeasted griddle muffins, split and buttered for breakfast
In Gaborone and villages across Botswana, diphaphata (sometimes called flat cakes or Botswana muffins) are a weekend breakfast: little rounds of soft yeast dough cooked on a dry, heavy pan until they puff and brown on both sides, then split while hot and spread with butter, jam or syrup. They look like English muffins but are softer and slightly sweet. The common mistake is a pan that is too hot: the outsides scorch while the centres stay doughy, so cook them slowly over a medium-low heat. Chef's tip: dust them with flour rather than oiling the pan; a dry pan gives the matt, freckled crust they are known for.
- Total time
- 100 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb plain flourplus extra for dusting
- ¼ oz instant dried yeast1 sachet
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ cup warm milk
- ¾ cup warm water
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 2 ⅛ oz butterto serve
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ⅛ lb plain flour, ¼ oz instant dried yeast, 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl. Add ¾ cup warm milk, ¾ cup warm water and 2 tbsp sunflower oil and mix to a soft dough.
Step 2: Knead for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and leave in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled.
60 minStep 3: Knock back and roll out on a floured surface to 2 cm thick. Cut out rounds with an 8 cm cutter or glass, re-rolling the scraps. Dust both sides with flour and rest for 10 minutes.
10 minStep 4: Heat a heavy, dry frying pan or griddle over a medium-low heat. Cook the rounds in batches for 5–6 minutes per side, until puffed, browned in spots and they sound hollow when tapped; the sides should feel springy, not doughy.
20 minStep 5: Split while warm and spread with 2 ⅛ oz butter.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does diphaphata take?
- About 100 minutes in total: 80 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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