🇱🇸 Basotho (Lesotho) Cuisine

Mokoenya

Fried Dough Balls

Prep Time 20 min + 30 min rise

Servings 12

Difficulty Easy

Calories 168 kcal

Golden, crispy fried dough balls with a soft, airy interior. These beloved street snacks are dusted with sugar and enjoyed as a treat by children and adults alike across Lesotho.

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
Vegetable oil for deep frying
Cinnamon sugar for dusting

Instructions

1 Mix flour, sugar, yeast, and salt
2 Add warm water and knead into a soft dough
3 Cover and let rise for 30 minutes
4 Heat oil to 170°C (340°F) for deep frying
5 Pinch off golf-ball sized pieces of dough
6 Fry in batches until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes
7 Drain on paper towels
8 Dust with cinnamon sugar while warm
9 Serve immediately

Did You Know?

Mokoenya vendors are a common sight outside schools in Lesotho. Children often pool their pocket money to buy a shared bag, and the vendor who makes the biggest, fluffiest ones becomes the neighborhood favorite.