Fat Cakes Recipe (Vetkoek)
User Reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Excellent
Fat Cakes Recipe (Vetkoek)
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South African fat cakes are delicious bites of crisp, fluffy and tender fried dough perfect for stuffing with your choice of sweet or savory goodies... Like a homemade minced meat filling!
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Ingredients
- 4 cups bread flour
- 4 teaspoons dry active yeast
- 7 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ cups lukewarm water
- 2 quarts fry oil canola, sunflower, peanut, or safflower
Instructions
- Place 2 tablespoons sugar and the dry active yeast in the bowl of a large stand mixer. Add lukewarm water to the bowl, and allow the mixture to foam for 10 minutes, to activate the yeast. *Water that is too warm will kill the yeast, causing it to not rise. Make sure the water is just barely warmer than the temperature of your skin.
- Add the remaining sugar and salt to the yeast mixture. Then place a bread hook on the mixer and turn on low. Slowly add the 4 cups of bread flour to the mix. Once the dough comes together allow it to need for 5 minutes. That dough will be wet and tacky. If it looks dry, add a little more water to the dough.
- Remove the bread hook and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Then allow it to rise for 1 to 2 hours, until double in size.
- Once the dough has risen, set a large pot over medium to medium-low heat. Attach a cooking thermometer to the side of the pot and pour in the oil. Allow the oil to rise to 350°F. Place a plate lined with paper towels on the side of the stove.
- Once the oil is at the right temperature, use a 1 ½ to 2 tablespoon scoop to portion out pieces of the wet dough. Dunk the scoop in the fryer oil, if needed, to coat it so that the dough does not stick to the scoop. Place the balls into the fry oil and rotate immediately. Continued a portion out balls of dough, gently placing them in the fryer oil. Use a skimmer to rotate the balls throughout the cooking process so that they are evenly golden on all sides. Cook for 4-5 minutes until a fork inserted into the center of one ball comes out clean. *The temperature will drop once the dough balls are in the oil. This is a good thing! Adjust the temperature to keep the oil around 320°F if possible. Use the skimmer to move the fried fat cakes to the plate. Repeat with the remaining though, dunking the scooper into the fry oil as needed.
Notes
- For the larger donut-style fat cakes, using baking powder, follow these instructions:
- In a large bowl, or stand mixer with a bread hook, combine the bread flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
- Pour in ¾ cup of water. Mix until the dough forms a ball. (Do this by hand or with the bread hook.) Continue to knead the dough for 5 minutes until it is firm and smooth, but still soft. If the dough seems dry, add another ¼ cup of water. The dough should resemble a good bread dough or pizza dough, just slightly tacky but not wet and sticky.
- Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces. Use your hands to form each piece into a ball then press flat in shape into a disk.
- Follow the instructions above to prepare the fry oil. Place 3-4 disks into the fry oil at a time, making sure the temperature drops down to about 320°F. Fry for 3 to 5 minutes, until lightly golden. A fork inserted into the center should come out clean. Cut and fill with curried minced meat, cheese, and jam, or your favorite fillings.
- Easy South African Minced Meat Recipe:
- Set a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the oil to the pan. Once hot, stir in the diced onions, garlic, and ginger. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Once the onions have softened, stir in all spices: curry powder, Gara masala, chili powder, ground cumin, and salt. Sauté another minute.
- Stir in the ground beef and diced potatoes. Stir and brown the meat breaking it apart with a wooden spoon to form small pieces as it cooks. Brown the meat for 5 to 8 minutes.
- Stir in the tomatoes and frozen peas. Fill the tomato can with 15 ounces of water, then add to the pan. Simmer the minced meat mixture until the sauce has reduced and the potatoes are cooked through. (It should be a Sloppy Joe consistency.) Then remove from heat and serve warm.
- 4 cups bread flour (or all-purpose)
- 7 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 6 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon teaspoons of salt
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 sweet onion, peeled and diced
- 2 cups diced potato
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 15 ounce can diced tomatoes (or crushed tomatoes)
- 1 ½ cups frozen peas
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1pc
Calories
140kcal
(7%)
Carbohydrates
16g
(5%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
4g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Trans Fat
0.05g
Sodium
118mg
(5%)
Potassium
32mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
0.3IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
0.005mg
(0%)
Calcium
3mg
(0%)
Iron
0.2mg
(1%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 30cakes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 140 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1pc | |
| Calories | 140kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 16g | 5% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 0.05g | 3% |
| Sodium | 118mg | 5% |
| Potassium | 32mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 0.3IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0.005mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 3mg | 0% |
| Iron | 0.2mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
9 reviews
Excellent
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