Fried Dough Fat Cakes (Vetkoek) Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (2024)

Vetkoek Recipe – South African fat cakes are delicious bites of crisp, fluffy, and tender fried dough perfect for stuffing with sweet or savory goodies… Like a homemade minced meat filling!

Why We Love This Fat Cake Recipe (Both Methods!)

Last year my daughter spent several months in South Africa. One of the recipes that she talked frequently about was Vetkoek, South African Fat Cakes. We decide to try making them at home, and the whole family fell in love!

Fat cakes are a type of fried dough recipe that is most often served as a snack in South Africa, Botswana, and other southern African countries. In Botswana, they are often called Magwinya, and Vetoek in South Africa. But both names refer to the same soft, tender, and crisp spheres.

African fry bread can be made with yeast or baking powder. The baking powder variety is usually flattened and fried over low heat like glaze-less donuts. They resemble hamburger buns and can be stuffed with curried minced meat and other fillings. Ava said one of her favorite ways to eat them was filled with sharp cheddar cheese and jam.

However, the cakes can also be made with yeast. This variety is most commonly scooped into smaller portions, for mini pieces of fry bread you dunk in sauce, but they can also be filled with fillings. (The larger hamburger bun style is most definitely easier for filling.)

Here we’re focusing on the yeast fat cake variety, but have also included a recipe for the larger flatter baking powder recipe as well, plus, minced meat filling!

6 Ingredients You Need

This fried dough recipe uses simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Bread flour – you can use all-purpose flour in a pinch, but note that the texture will be slightly different
• Active dry yeast – active yeast is best for just the right fluffy texture, so don’t try to sub with instant yeast
• Granulated sugar – helps keep the dough moist and flavorful
• Salt – just a pinch
• Water – to form the dough
• Fry oil – high-heat oil like sunflower, peanut, safflower, or canola oil

How to Make South African Fried Dough

1. Place 2 tablespoons of 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.

Pro Tip: 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.

2. Add the remaining sugar and salt to the yeast mixture. Then place a bread hook on the mixer and turn it 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.
3. 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.

4. 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.
5. Once the oil is at the right temperature, use a 1 ½ to 2 tablespoon scoop to portion out pieces of the wet dough.

Get the Complete (Printable) Fat Cake Recipe Below. Enjoy!

6. 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 frying oil and rotate immediately.
7. Continue to 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.
8. Cook for 4-5 minutes until a fork inserted into the center of one fat cake comes out clean.

Pro Tip: 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.

9. Use the skimmer to move the fried fat cakes to the plate. Repeat with the remaining though, dunking the scooper into the frying oil as needed.

10. Enjoy the fried dough right away as-is, serve with spreads, or make tiny stuffed sandwiches – like my daughter loves! Her favorite combination is a pieces of cheddar cheese and a smidge of sweet jam. Fill your fat cakes with whatever goodies you like!

How to Make Large Fat Cakes (Vetkoek Without Yeast)

These larger cakes are terrific for stuffing with a hearty filling. They’re similar to hamburger buns in size, but with a crisper exterior and soft, fluffy inside.

This fried dough recipe is made without yeast, and requires no time to proof! To make this version of Vetkoek you need:

• Bread flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Water

1. In a large bowl, or stand mixer with a bread hook, combine the bread flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
2. Pour in ¾ cup of water. Mix until the dough forms a ball. Do this by hand or with the bread hook.
3. 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.
4. 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.

5. Follow the instructions above to prepare the fry oil.
6. 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.

7. Cut and fill with curried minced meat (recipe below), cheese and jam, or your favorite fillings.

South African Minced Meat Recipe

Traditional Vetkoek is often served with a super flavorful minced meat for a savory sandwich-like meal! Here’s what you would need:

Ingredients

• Oil – high heat and neutral flavored, like vegetable or sunflower
• Ground beef – or ground turkey, ground chicken, or even your favorite vegan plant-based ground meat alternative
• Onion – peeled and diced
• Potato – diced
• Garlic – minced
• Fresh ginger – grated
• Spices – curry powder, garam masala, chili powder, ground cumin, and salt
• Canned tomatoes – diced or crushed
• Frozen peas – no need to thaw

Easy Recipe Steps

1. 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.
2. Once the onions have softened, stir in all spices: curry powder, garam masala, chili powder, ground cumin, and salt. Sauté another minute.
3. 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.
4. 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.

5. Remove from the heat, and spoon the mixture into the cooled and sliced fat cakes.

You can also use this easy minced meat recipe for topping hot dogs, hamburger buns, baked potatoes, etc.

What to Serve with Vetkoek

The tasty, savory fried breads are great for a quick snack or appetizer. Serve them with whatever dips and spreads you like!

Stuff the fried dough with your favorite meats, cheeses, and other goodies for breakfast or lunch. From scrambled eggs to chicken salad and the (fantastic!) minced meat recipe we share here, there’s no limit to how you can enjoy homemade fat cakes.

You can use this fried dough recipe to make sandwiches like a beef brisket sandwich, or even tacos!

Storage Tips

Store the vetkoek in an airtight container, and keep it on the counter for a day or two.

I recommend that you freeze them for longer storage. Wrap each fat cake in a layer of plastic wrap, and place it all together in an airtight zipper bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Looking for More Easy Bread Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

• The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe
• Easiest Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pao de Queijo)
• Mexican Stuffed Crescent Roll Recipe
• How to Make Pupusas
• Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread