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Vetkoek
Fried bread puffs
Golden, fluffy fried bread puffs, split and filled with cheese and jam or chakalaka
Vetkoek ('fat cake' in Afrikaans) is fried at church fêtes, rugby matches and roadside stalls all over South Africa, and in townships it's known as amagwinya. The yeast dough fries into a crisp golden ball with a soft, steamy middle, split open while still warm. The best-known filling is curried mince, but just as many people eat them with grated cheese and apricot jam, golden syrup, or a spoon of chakalaka, as here. Chef's tip: keep the oil at a steady medium heat and turn the vetkoek often so they colour evenly and cook right through.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the dough
- 1 ⅛ lb white bread flour
- ¼ oz instant dried yeast
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ¼ cups lukewarm waterabout
- 1 litre sunflower oilfor frying
To fill
- 5 ½ oz grated cheddar (optional)
- 8 tbsp apricot jam or golden syrup (optional)
- 10 ½ oz chakalaka (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ⅛ lb white bread flour, ¼ oz instant dried yeast, 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl. Add 1 ¼ cups lukewarm water and mix to a soft, slightly sticky dough.
Step 2: Knead for 8 minutes until smooth and springy, then cover and leave somewhere warm until doubled.
50 minStep 3: Knock back and divide into 8 balls. Flatten each slightly to about 2 cm thick and leave on a floured tray for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Heat 1 litre sunflower oil in a deep pan over a medium heat to 350°F. Fry 3–4 at a time, turning often, until deep golden and they sound hollow when tapped underneath.
8 minStep 5: A common mistake is oil that is too hot; the outside browns in two minutes and the inside stays raw. If unsure, break the first one open: it should be fluffy and dry inside.
Step 6: Drain on kitchen paper. Split while warm and fill with 5 ½ oz grated cheddar and 8 tbsp apricot jam or golden syrup, or with 10 ½ oz chakalaka.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 56 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does vetkoek take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 70 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 sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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