Main
Vetkoek (fried bread filled with spiced beef)
- Preparation time
- 1 h 10
- Servings
- 10 vetkoek
Ingredients
- Flour — to buy500 g (4 cups)
- Baker's yeast — to buy7 g (2 1/4 tsp)
- Sugar — to buy1 tbsp
- Salt — to buy1 tsp
- Water — to buy300 ml (1 1/4 cups)
- Neutral oil — to buy1 L (for frying)
- Ground beef — to buy400 g (14 oz)
- Onion — to buy1
- Curry powder — to buy1 tsp
Preparation
Prepare the bread dough: mix the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl, and make a well in the center.
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water, let it foam for 5 minutes, then pour it into the well. Mix until you get a sticky, uniform dough: there''s no need to over-knead, this dough should stay quite soft.
Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour in a warm spot, until doubled in size.
While the dough rises, prepare the filling: sauté the chopped onion in a little oil, add the ground beef and curry powder, season with salt, and cook for 10 minutes, breaking up the meat with a fork, until fully cooked with no residual liquid. Set aside.
Heat the frying oil in a large pot to about 170-180°C: a small piece of dough should rise to the surface sizzling as soon as it touches the oil.
Using two oiled spoons, scoop portions of dough about the size of a small fist and slide them gently into the hot oil, without overcrowding the pot.
Fry for 4 to 5 minutes, turning halfway through, until the vetkoek are golden and puffed, with a hollow sound when tapped.
Drain on paper towel. Once slightly cooled, split them open on the side without cutting all the way through.
Fill each vetkoek with the warm spiced beef filling, and serve immediately while still crisp outside and soft inside.