Vetkoek — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

Golden, crispy-shelled deep-fried bread dough, split open and filled with savory curried mince or sweet syrup — South Africa's most popular street food.

Ingredients

500g bread flour
7g instant yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
300ml warm water
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Oil for deep-frying
Filling: 300g ground beef, 1 onion diced, 1 tbsp curry powder, salt and pepper

Instructions

1 Mix flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Add warm water and oil. Knead for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
2 Cover and let rise in a warm spot for 45 minutes until doubled in size.
3 For the filling: brown ground beef with onion and curry powder, season, and set aside.
4 Punch down dough and divide into 10 equal balls. Let rest 10 minutes.
5 Deep-fry in oil at 170°C (340°F) for 4-5 minutes per side until deep golden brown and cooked through.
6 Drain on paper towels. Split open and fill with curried mince. Serve immediately.

Did You Know?

Vetkoek literally means "fat cake" in Afrikaans. Despite the name, a well-made vetkoek should not be greasy — the hot oil seals the outside instantly, keeping the interior fluffy and light.