Mandazi (Tanzanian Coconut Fried Dough)
In short: Light, puffy fried dough triangles flavored with coconut milk and cardamom, lightly sweet and best eaten warm with a cup of milky tea. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 355 kcal
Mandazi are lightly sweet fried dough triangles eaten at breakfast with tea, as a snack, and at tea stalls across Tanzania. Coconut milk and cardamom flavor the dough, which puffs in hot oil into airy pieces with a thin crisp shell. They are best on the day they are made, still slightly warm. Many families make a big batch at the weekend and serve them with sweet milky tea.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, cardamom and salt in a large bowl.
- In a second bowl, whisk the egg, warm coconut milk and 2 tablespoons of oil. Pour into the flour and mix, then knead for 3 to 4 minutes into a soft, smooth dough.
- Cover the dough and rest for 30 minutes.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface to 1 cm (1/2 inch) thick. Cut it into squares about 5 cm (2 inches) wide, then cut each square diagonally into two triangles.
- Heat the frying oil in a deep, heavy pot to 175°C (350°F). Fry 5 or 6 pieces at a time for 2 minutes per side, turning once, until puffed and deep golden.
- Drain on paper towels and serve warm with tea.
Tips
- Test the oil with a scrap of dough. It should sizzle and rise within seconds. Oil that is too cool gives greasy mandazi, and oil that is too hot leaves the middle raw.
- For a yeasted version, replace the baking powder with 2 teaspoons of instant yeast and let the dough rise for 1 hour. The result is chewier and lighter.
Questions and answers
Why are my mandazi hard?
The dough was probably overworked or rolled too thin. Knead only until smooth, and roll to 1 cm so the pieces can puff and stay soft inside.
Can I make mandazi ahead?
They keep for 2 days in an airtight container. Warm them in a 160°C (325°F) oven for 5 minutes to freshen them up.
How are mandazi different from doughnuts?
Mandazi are less sweet and not glazed, with a denser, bread-like crumb flavored with coconut and cardamom. They are usually eaten plain with tea.
How long does it take to make Mandazi (Tanzanian Coconut Fried Dough)?
About 50 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Mandazi (Tanzanian Coconut Fried Dough)?
About 355 kcal per serving, with 7 g of protein, 44 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 355 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 44 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 200 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
