Mangwinya as we call them in my language (Xitsonga), is a donut made with a flour mix and water then deep-fried in hot oil until golden on both sides. I remember having magwinya when I went to school at a tender age of 6 years. However, the recipe I have mastered is made differently compared to how I grew up seeing people making them.
As I grew up, most of the schools I went to had someone selling magwinya. Quite filling and a favorite in winter. Mainly enjoyed with atchara (Mango chutney), Mince and or polony. These donuts are also found at almost every corner of the big cities (Johannesburg and Pretoria).
The amazing thing about most of the street vendors that sell donuts is that when you support their business, you are helping feed a family. The main few stores that sell donuts on a daily basis is Spar and Food lovers. However, food lovers sell theirs filled either with mince, custard or bar one sauce.
Donuts are available from country to culture. With each culture, the method of cooking and eating them varies. Yet there is so many similarities. In South Africa we have so many cultures and though spelled differently according to each language, Magwinya is widely used name for donuts. Our English speaking people call them fat cakes. In the Cape we have a koeksiters which is a beautifully twisted/braded donut that is dunked into a sweet syrup giving it a glossy look. And we also enjoy log shaped donuts with cream filling called cream donuts.
Going up into Africa in Kenya, we have Mandazi. Made with self-raising flour and not yeast like the ones eaten in South Africa. A bit of an exercise to make which requires the dough to rests a number of times before they are fried. Mandazi has different recipes and version spanning between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. With Puff Puff we see another common food between Ghana and Nageria also enjoyed in Sierra Leon. Puff Puff have eggs and butter making them different to the south of Africa. And Nigeria also holds the unique donut like but crunchy delicacy called a chin chin.
The United State of America has a variety of donuts and most of their donuts have evolved from the mix of cultures found there. Kindly see list below of popular donuts. With eating healthy donuts change. We have seen over the recent years the popularity of baked donuts. This is to avoid consuming oil by eliminating the frying process. However, these donuts taste more like cakes and still have butter as an ingredient.
In Europe we find the Cruller and much recently the Cronut which was invented by a French American Chef Dominique Ansel. The cronut is made using butter pastry but shaped like a ring donut. It’s a combination between a croissant and donut.
This recipe Makes 14 plus depending on size of a cookie or donut cutter.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Raising Time: 30 - 40 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
4 cups cake flour (all purpose flour)
10g (1 pkt) instant yeast
15ml sugar
5ml salt
2 ½ cups warm water
Canola oil for frying
Method:
1. Place the flour, yeast, sugar and salt into a bowl and mix together.
2. Slowly add the water, a little at a time until a soft dough forms (you may need more or less water).
3. Tip onto a floured surface, and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic 10 minutes.
4. Place into an oiled bowl and cover with cling film, allow to prove for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
5. Tip onto a floured surface and use a rolling pin to form an even layer.
6. Use a round cookie cutter to create round shapes.
7. Steadily drop into hot oil and fry on all sides until golden brown.
8. Repeat flattening until dough is finished.
Tip: Do not over-crowd the pan when frying as it will lower the oil temperature and result in a very greasy product.
If you have small balls left over when using a donut ring, simply fry them as they are and ice them with icing sugar for a sweet desert.
The other way to get the round magwinya shape is preparing a bowl of cold water. Dip your hand into the water then squeeze the dough between your thumb and index fingers. With each ball you have to repeat the process by first dipping your hand into water. The cookie cutter is the most simplest process by far.
You can check the cook along video with The Great British Food Festival.
https://youtu.be/mQh7eGwYHFs
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