Authentic Tanzanian Mandazi Recipe in Six Simple Steps

This recipe is authentic, tried and tasted, and the outcome is delicious. The mandazi (pronounced: man-dah-zee) is a delicious light home-made donut widely eaten in Tanzania, and elsewhere in East Africa. It can be made to accommodate a variety of sweetness preferences and has just a hint of coconut flavor. It can be spiced or eaten, as below, as a simple fried dough snack. Mandazis cost between 100 and 250 shillings (roughly 10-25 cents) and are served at duka's (small local shops) or on nearly every corner by merchants trolling on foot. They are often still warm when served and wrapped in yesterdays newspaper. I survived by refueling on these little carbohydrate bites, which I frequently bought along the road, especially while traveling by foot.

What you will need:

rolling pin

flat surface (to roll the dough on)

cookie cutters or a glass with wide rim

Ingredients:

The 2nd or 3^rd strain of fresh coconut milk (One coconut)

½ teaspoon yeast 

¾ cup sugar

¼ cup oil

oil for frying

*Can infuse with cardamum to flavor the oil or coconut milk prior to cooking for additional flavor

Step 1:

Gently swirl together dry ingredients, adding cup by cup of flour (b/w 3 and 4 cups total)

Step 2: 

Sprinkle light flour on flat surface and knead the dough

Step 3:

Let dough sit for 10-15 mins.

Step 4:

Roll to ½ inch thick and cut circle shapes. Put on a floured pan.

Reroll remaining dough into flat shape and cut into circle shapes, until all dough is consumed

Step 5:

Wait 1-2 hours for dough to rise

To make proper donuts, just find a smaller rimmed glass to cut out a whole in the circles before frying. 

Step 6: 

Heat oil into pan and fry until golden brown

Serve with chai (tea)!

Final ingredient: 
cooking with confidence, repeat while cooking,  "Ninaweza kupika chakula kitamu." ("I am able to cook delicious food!")

If the food was prepared for you, don't forget to say "asante sana" ("Thank you very much!")