Sunday, August 1, 2010

Koeksisters

I'm currently trying to get through my mammoth cooking tasks for Africa Day. The list includes double quantities of bobotie, malva pudding and an attempt at koeksisters. I last made koeksisters in a home ec class way back when. That being said I googled it and found a few recipes one of which I am currently attempting. The recipe I found doesn't have an indication of the quantity it makes so it is going to be a surprise. If anything, this will be a baby taste of home on the day (if I don't eat them all beforehand)

Koeksisters

The secret of the crisp syrupy outside of koeksisters is that they are taken straight from hot oil and dipped into ice-cold syrup. This seals the syrup outside and leaves the inside dryish in contrast.

Ingredients:
  • 375ml water
  • 800g sugar
  • 2ml (1/2t) cream of tartar
  • 2ml (1/2t) ground ginger
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 500g cake flour
  • 30ml (6t) baking powder
  • 2ml (1/2t) salt
  • 50ml (4T0 butter or margarine
  • 2 eggs
  • 250ml milk
  • oil for deep frying
Instructions:
  • To make syrup, heat water in a saucepan, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add cream of tartar, ginger and cinnamon.
  • Boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Do not stir, remove from stove and chill.
  • While syrup is chilling, make koeksisters. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.
  • Add butter and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
  • Beat eggs and milk together and add to dry ingredients. Mix dough well, then knead lightly for 2 minutes to make it pliable.
  • Cover basin with wax paper and leave for 1 hour.
  • Roll dough to a thickness of 7.5 to 10mm. Cut into strips about 8 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. Cut each strip into three lengthwise, leaving one side uncut. Now plait the three pieces and press ends together firmly.
  • Heat oil to 190ÂșC and deepfry koeksisters for 1 minute. (Do not fry too many at once)
  • The syrup will warm up about halfway through, so divide the syrup into two bowls.
  • Remove from oil, drain on brown paper for 1 minute and dip in cold syrup for 30 seconds. Remove from syrup and place on a dish to dry.
You'll probably see lots of recipes posted in the next few days as dishes are prepared.

1 comment:

Ben Haller said...

In case anybody is wondering, they came out super yummy. :->