Recipe

Africa🇹🇿 TanzaniaZanzibar
Maandazi
Tanzanian · easy · serves 6
prep 20 min · cook 20 min
~367 cal · 7g protein · 62g carbs · 10g fat (estimated, per serving)
🍽️
Golden fried dough triangles dusted with sugar
🇹🇿 Zanzibar
Maandazi are the doughnuts of the Swahili coast, pillowy fried breads faintly sweet and perfumed with cardamom and coconut milk. On Zanzibar they are cut into triangles and fried golden, eaten warm with spiced chai for breakfast or any time a little something is wanted with tea.
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Ingredients
Serves 6
3 cups flour
1 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp cardamom
2 tsp yeast (or baking powder)
as needed oil for frying
a pinch a pinch of salt
Instructions
1
Mix the flour, sugar, cardamom, salt, and yeast, then add coconut milk to make a soft dough.
2
Knead briefly and let it rest until puffy.
3
Roll out and cut into triangles.
4
Fry in hot oil, turning, until golden and puffed.
5
Drain and serve warm with spiced chai.
Zanzibar tradition.
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🌏 While it simmers — know your destination
📍
Zanzibar. The spice island whose pilau perfumes Stone Town’s alleys.
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Tanzania. From Kilimanjaro to the spice island of Zanzibar.
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Africa. Fifty-four countries of tagines, stews, and fire-kissed grills.
The story behind this dish is up top — worth a read while the pot works.
👩‍🍳
Richard Moore & Kelsey Tucker
Recipes cooked, tested, and researched by the creators of Spin the Globe. How we build our recipes →
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