Mandazi - Baked not fried

Anyone who has lived in East Africa will know this Swahili treat found in Kenya, Tanzania and also Uganda.  It is typically a Coastal treat.

I had blogged in a previous write-up about the Arab Halwa which stirred up so many memories of coastal visits as children.  Mandazi  has the same warmth in my memory.

Breakfasts on a holiday in Mombasa or Malindi meant my dad leaving our holiday residence early in the morning and returning with a grease filled bag or paper containing the coveted mandazis.  My mother would then boil the water in a kettle and have a hot cup of instant coffee with lots of milk and sugar  ready for each one of us...yum!!  The only way to describe a mandazi to someone who has never heard of it is that it is a sweet bread that is traditionally deep fried much like a donut.  Delicately spiced with cardamon (or cinnamon) this treat leaves an indelible impression on any East African resident or visitor.  My family loves to dip a mandazi in hot coffee or tea and then eat it.

For health reasons I have baked these mandazis but you can follow the same recipe and deep fry in hot oil until golden brown.  The baked method turns out just as yummy minus the grease, and tastes just as wonderful the next day if you happen to have any left-overs.

Ingredients

1 cup plus 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour ( keep separately)
1/4 - 1/2 cup fine white sugar  ( use 1/2 cup if you like them sweeter)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 teaspoons instant yeast (  Fleischmann's® RapidRise Yeast)

1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 medium egg lightly beaten

Method

Combine 1 cup flour, sugar,  yeast, salt, and cardamon in a large mixer bowl.  I used the bowl of my stand-up mixer.  Use a whisk to mix well.

 Combine milk and 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a microwave safe container. Heat in the microwave until hot to touch ( about 50-55 degrees centigrade). I put it in for 1 minute, then measured the temperature after every 10 seconds. Make sure the liquid is not too hot or it will kill the yeast.

 Add the liquid to the flour and mix to combine. Add the lightly beaten egg and mix. Add the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough comes together and is no longer sticky.

 Knead with your hands gently and form a ball.  Cover with a cloth and let it rise in a warm area until doubled, about 1 hour. If you have a bread proof feature on your oven than you can use this to proof your bread.  The proofing temperature is 100 F.

 When you remove the dough it will have almost doubled in size. Press it down a few times and knead . Divide the dough into 4 parts.

Keeping the remaining dough covered with a cloth, roll each piece into a circle about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick. Cut each circle into 6 pieces with a pizza cutter or a sharp knife.  You will get 24 large pieces.

 Lay the pieces on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and lightly greased I used a kitchen oil spray. Cover with a cloth and leave to rise again for about 40-45 minutes,

 They will be nicely risen when finished proofing.

 Preheat the oven to 375 F. Bake for 8-10 minutes until nicely brown.  Remove and enjoy hot or cooled.  Butter or jam can be added but eating it just as it is with a hot beverage is the ultimate high!!


Approximate nutritional value per Mandazi based on 1/4 cup of sugar

calories 89.2/ Total fat 2.5 g/ Total carbohydrates 14.9g/ Protein 2g