Easy Vetkoek Food

SOUTH AFRICAN TRADITIONAL VETKOEK (FRIED BREAD)

Steps:

• Mix lukewarm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Let stand until yeast softens and begins to bubble slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Sift flour and salt together in a large bowl.
• Pour water mixture over flour mixture and knead until dough is smooth and elastic, 5 to 7 minutes. Cover bowl with clean cloth and let dough rise until until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes.
• Pinch off a piece of dough about the size of a tennis ball; roll until smooth. Flatten ball of dough until it is the size of palm; set aside on a floured work surface. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fry flattened pieces of dough in the hot oil, 2 to 3 pieces at a time, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side.

VETKOEK

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, sieve the flour and combine the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Mix well.
• Add the water and the vegetable oil and mix into a soft, smooth dough.
• Place the dough on a floured surface and gently knead for 5-10 minutes. You may need to add a little more flour to the dough to prevent it from sticking to your fingers. I mixed everything in the food processor for about 5 minutes.
• Cover the mixture with a tea towel and allow it to rise for about one hour. The dough should roughly double in size.
• Turn out the dough on a lightly floured surface divide it into equal portions. (depending on the size you prefer I made smallish ones each weighing about 40gr) , roll each portion to a smooth ball, lay them in a tray lined with parchment paper cover them with a clean kitchen towel let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Heat a large pot of vegetable oil over a medium flame for deep frying. Test the temperature of the oil by dropping a little batter in. If it sizzles, you're ready to start frying.
• When the oil is ready, lift a risen ball carefully and place it into the warm oil -with the risen side (top) going in first, which will cause the flat side (bottom) to rise and puff out to make a round Vetkoek. Allow to colour on the one side for about 5 minutes and turn. Fry for a further 5 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Make sure to turn them frequently until golden brown.
• Drain on towel papers, slice open with a knife fill with your favourite filling or our delicious mince curry and enjoy them warm.

EASY VETKOEK RECIPE

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix lukewarm water, sugar and yeast until combined. Let the mixture stand for about 7 minutes.
• Add the flour and salt into the bowl and knead the dough for 10 minutes until smooth. Cover the bowl and set aside for an hour, or until double in size.
• Preheat oil on the stove over medium heat until hot. Take a handful of the dough and roll into palm size cakes.
• Fry the dough in the hot oil until golden brown and cooked through - it takes about 3 minutes per side.
• Drain on paper towel to get rid of excess oil.
• Cut a hole and fill with savoury mince or eat plain.

VETKOEK WITH MEAT FILLING

Steps:

• Stir sugar in the lukewarm water and add the yeast.
• Sieve the flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
• Add oil to the yeast liquid.
• Mix dry ingredients with yeast liquid using a wooden spoon.
• Work to a firm dough, adding extra flour if needed, until sides of bowl are clean.
• Turn dough on to a lightly floured table and knead thouroughly until it is firm, elastic and no longer sticky (about 10 minutes).
• Shape dough into a ball and place into mixing bowl and cover with cloth.
• Allow dough to double in size and dough springs back when pressed with a floured finger (60 minutes in a warm place, 2 hours at room temperature).
• Turn risen dough onto a lightly floured surface, flatten to knock out air bubbles and knead to make firm. Flatten to about 1 cm thick (little less than inch) and cut pieces into 8 cm x 8 cm (3" x 3").
• Cook in warm oil until brown.
• Slice open and smear with butter, jam or mince filling (many people actually would use all three).
• Mince filling:.
• Fry onions in oil until light brown. Add ground beef and cook for about 15 minutes. Add potatoes and enough water to cook gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add vegetable curry and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes. The mince should not be watery.