AMAKWINYA (VETKOEK) WITH AVOCADO, BACON & CHAKALAKA

  • Prep: 1 Hour 30 Min
  • Cook: 15 Min
  • Ready in: 1 Hour 45 Min
  • 8 Vetkoek

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* Amagwinya, also known as Vetkoek or Fat cake, is a traditional South African deep-fried bread that can be savoury or sweet and filled with a wide variety of items.
** Chakalaka is a South African vegetable relish, usually quite spicy served as an accompaniment to a wide variety of dishes.

Recipe

  • 250 ml (1 cup) lukewarm water
  • 1 x 10 g packet instant yeast
  • 500 g (3 cups + 2 tbsp.) cake flour
  • 5 ml (1 tsp.) salt
  • 30 ml (2 tbsp.) sugar
  • about 2 litres (8 cups) vegetable or canola oil, for frying
  • 1 ripe avocado, peeled and stoned
  • 200 g (1 pkt) bacon, optional
  • 45-60 ml (3-4 tbsp.) chakalaka**

Description

  1. Pour 250 ml lukewarm water into a small jug and sprinkle over the yeast. Leave the mixture for a few minutes until foamy. In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and sugar. Pour in the yeast liquid and stir to combine. If the dough is very stiff a little more water may be required. Add lukewarm water to the dough in small amounts, mixing after each addition, until a soft but not sticky dough forms – similar to bread dough.
  2. Place the dough in an electric mixer and use the dough hooks to knead until the dough starts coming away from the sides of the mixing bowl and has a slightly glossy, smooth surface. If you don’t have an electric mixer, knead by hand until the dough forms a smooth ball with a slightly glossy surface, for about 15 minutes. Cover the dough with a damp cloth or plastic wrap that’s been brushed with oil and leave in a warm place until the dough has risen and doubled in size, about an hour.
  3. Just before you start frying the dough, cook the bacon in the oven or in a frying pan, drain on paper towel. Set aside while frying the amagwinya.
  4. Brush your hands with a little oil and roll the dough into medium-sized balls. Heat the oil in a large pot or deep heavy bottomed pan over medium heat. To determine whether the oil is ready, drop a small piece of dough into it. The oil is hot enough when the dough immediately bubbles and rises to the surface. Fry the dough in batches, turning often until they’re golden brown, about 6 minutes per side. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon and place on paper towel to remove excess oil.
  5. To serve, cut the amagwinya in half and fill with slices of avocado, a couple of bacon rashers and a few of dollops of chakalaka.