Also known as Swahili Bun
Mandazi is a kind of doughnut or fried dough made in East Africa. It can be made using baking powder or yeast and mixed with water, yoghurt, coconut milk or milk. There are hundreds of recipes out there. This is one of my favourite recipes.
Divide the dough into 2 balls, flatten the balls on a well floured surface, cover and let rest for 20-30 minutes. (It’s important for the dough to rest so don’t skip this step)
Roll the doughs into quarter inch thickness and cut to your desired shape. I like making small ones
Deep-fry at 380°F, turning frequently, until golden brown on both sides. I just fried mine on the stove top and since I have done this a thousand times, I never use a thermometer to check the temperature of the oil.
Serve with tea, coffee, or eat as a snack. In East Africa, it’s always served with Tea.
Mandazi
Preparation time: 10 minutes + 20-30 minutes resting time; Cooking time: 30 minutes Makes: 15-40 depending on size and thickness of rolled dough
Ingredients
- 300g (10.5oz, 2⅓ cup) all purpose flour
- 2¼ teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cardamom
- ¼ cup (50g, 2oz) sugar
- 50g (2oz, 3 tablespoons) margarine or butter
- 1 egg, beaten
- 60ml (¼ cup) buttermilk or plain yoghurt or milk
- 80ml (⅓ cup) warm water
Instructions
- Sift the flour, baking powder, cardamom and sugar. Rub in the margarine. Make a well in the centre of the flour.
- Add the egg, buttermilk and warm water and mix to a very soft, almost sticky dough. Turn on a well-floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until very soft and elastic.
- Divide into 2 balls, flatten the balls on a well floured surface, cover and let rest for 20-30 minutes.
- Roll the doughs into quarter inch thickness and cut to your desired shape. Deep-fry at 380°F until golden brown on both sides. I just fried mine on the stove top. In East Africa, it’s always served with tea.
- If you don’t have milk/yoghurt you substitute with 60ml (¼ cup) water, but note that the texture will be slightly different.
- For cup measures: spoon the flour into the cup, heaping it up over the top, then slide a knife across the top to level off the extra. Be careful not to shake or tap the cup to settle down the flour or you will have more than you need. I use a 240ml, American cup.
- Last Updated: March, 09, 2018
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Thanks for the mandazi recipe. Its been my ho to and I even shared it with my sisters.
I am so glad you liked the mandazi recipe. I was just thinking of making some. It has been a long time. Thank you for sharing with your sisters too. I wish you all the best!!!
Liz
Yum!