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African Donut (Mandazi)

Ingredients

  • 450 g White flour I like to use Doves organic and Allinson’s plain flour mixed together
  • 300 ml Coconut milk
  • 1½ Olive oil
  • 1 1 ltr vegetable oil (for deep frying)
  • 50 g Sugar
  • 1 Medium size egg
  • 1½ tsp Easy blend dried yeast
  • 4 Cardamom pods – soak in hot water

Instructions

  • Mix sugar and coconut milk.
  • Beat the egg in a small bowl.
  • Heat olive oil in frying pan until very hot.
  • Put the flour in a mixing bowl, pour the heated oil, then using a wooden spoon mix the oil and flour (don’t touch the mixture at this stage as the oil is very hot).  Then using your fingertips mix the oil and flour until properly mixed.
  • Add easy yeast.
  • Pour the mixture of sugar and coconut milk into the flour and add the egg. Add 1 tbsp of water and the soaked cardamom pods (optional).
  • Wash your hands and continue kneading the dough with your hands. If the dough is sticking into your fingers put your hand into the oil WHEN IT HAS COOLED DOWN - then continue kneading until the dough doesn’t stick to your fingers. (If the dough is hard add a bit of milk or water).
  • Divide the dough into 4 small balls and cover the container or tray with cling film and leave for 30 - 45  minutes or until the dough balls are  double the size.
  • Prepare the frying pan – pour the vegetable oil into a wok or a deep frying pan.
  • Prepare your kneading board and the rolling pin.  Sprinkle some flour on the board, roll one ball until flat about 0.5 cm thick. Cut into small pieces using a table knife.
  • Heat the oil, when very hot, put the pieces into the oil until it turns golden. Be CAREFUL as the oil is very hot - so don’t put your fingers in the oil.
  • To check if it's cooked use a bamboo skewer or kitchen knife pierce in the middle of one, if no residue sticks onto the skewer/knife, then they're done. Remove the cooked mandazi using a a suitable ladle. Store in the container.
  • Repeat the process until all the balls are finished.

Notes

Please note another advantage of using flour to roll the dough, flour helps to soak the oil as such your finished product won't be oily as the ones on the photo.