🇱🇸 Basotho (Lesotho) Cuisine

Makoenya a Pampoenkoekies

Pumpkin Fritters

Prep Time 20 min

Servings 12

Difficulty Easy

Calories 158 kcal

Sweet, golden pumpkin fritters spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. These tender, cakey fritters make use of Lesotho's abundant pumpkin harvest and are a favorite teatime treat.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked pumpkin, mashed
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
Vegetable oil for frying
Cinnamon sugar for coating

Instructions

1 Mix mashed pumpkin with egg and sugar
2 Sift in flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt
3 Stir until just combined — don't overmix
4 Heat 2cm oil in a frying pan to 170°C
5 Drop tablespoons of batter into hot oil
6 Fry 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown
7 Drain on paper towels
8 Roll in cinnamon sugar while warm
9 Serve warm or at room temperature

Did You Know?

Basotho grandmothers claim the key to perfect pumpkin fritters is using pumpkin that has been stored for at least a month after harvest, as the starches convert to sugars, making the fritters naturally sweeter.