Makoenya (Basotho Fried Dough Balls)
In short: Big, golden yeast dough balls fried until puffed and hollow, served warm with tea, spicy mango atchar or a handful of hot chips. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 410 kcal
Makoenya are fat, golden dough balls fried in oil, a favorite street food and breakfast in Lesotho. The dough is soft and slightly sticky, so the balls puff into light, hollow rounds with a thin crisp shell. They are eaten warm with tea, or split open and filled with atchar (a spicy mango pickle) or a handful of hot chips. This version needs no kneading, only patience while the dough rises.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, yeast, sugar and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in the warm water until you have a soft, sticky dough. No kneading is needed.
- Cover the bowl and leave it in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled in size and full of bubbles.
- Pour 6 cm (2 1/2 inches) of oil into a deep, heavy pot and heat it to 175°C (350°F).
- With oiled hands, pinch off pieces of dough about the size of a golf ball (70 g) and drop them gently into the oil.
- Fry 3 or 4 balls at a time for 4 to 5 minutes, turning them often, until deep golden and puffed. Test the first one by breaking it open to check that the center is cooked.
- Drain on paper towels. Serve warm, with tea or split open and filled with atchar or hot chips.
Tips
- Keep the oil at 175°C (350°F). If it is too hot the outside burns before the center cooks, and if it is too cool the dough turns greasy.
- Oil your hands rather than flouring them. Flour burns in the frying oil and leaves dark specks.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between makoenya and doughnuts?
Makoenya are plain and only lightly sweetened, with a bread-like inside. They are eaten with savory fillings or with tea, not rolled in sugar.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes. After the first rise, refrigerate the covered dough for up to 12 hours. Let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes before frying.
Can I bake makoenya?
You can bake the balls at 200°C (400°F) for 20 to 25 minutes, but they come out like soft bread rolls instead of crisp, hollow rounds.
How long does it take to make Makoenya (Basotho Fried Dough Balls)?
About 40 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Makoenya (Basotho Fried Dough Balls)?
About 410 kcal per serving, with 9 g of protein, 64 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 410 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 64 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 390 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
