Koeksisters South African Syrup Soaked Fritters Recipes

SOUTH AFRICAN KOEKSISTERS

Steps:

• Put the water and sugar in a ot and bring to boil on low heat. Stir frequently until the sugar is completely dissolved. Boil for 7 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the stove and stir in the lemon juice and vanilla essence. Put the pot into the fridge.
• Mix the flour, salt, and baking powder thoroughly in a mixing bowl. Break the butter or margarine into small pieces and add to the four mixture. Add the milk. Mix well until a dough is formed.
• Roll the dough out to a thickness of 5 mm (+ or - 1/4 in.). Cut the dough into thin (+ or - 10 mm or 1/2 in.) strips. Take 3 strips and join their ends on one side. Braid the strips to desired koeksister length and join other ends.
• Heat the oil in a pot until fairly hot. Put about 3 koeksisters (or what can fit)at a time in the oil and fry them on both sides until they get a golden-brown color. As you remove the koeksisters for the oil, place them directly ito the syrup from the fridge. It is important to keep the syrup cool, so between soakings, return the syrup to the fridge to maintain its coolness.
• Remove the koeksisters from the syrup and allow the excess syrup to drip off. Place them in the refrigerator to cool and then eat!

KOEKSISTERS

Steps:

• First make syrup. Heat water in saucepan, add sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Add cream of tartar, ginger and cinamon.
• Boil uncovered for 5 minutes. Do not stir.
• Remove from stove and chill.
• While syrup is chilling, make the koeksisters.
• Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.
• Add butter and rub it 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 out dough to 1cm thick.
• Cut strips (rectangles) 8cm x 4 cm, then make 2 vertical cuts in each strip, starting 5mm from the top and cutting down right to the bottom.
• Plait strips loosely and secure at loose end.
• Heat oil to 190C and deep-fry koeksisters for 1 minute. Not too many at once.
• Remove from oil and drain on paper towel for 1 minute and then dip in syrup for until soaked (1 minute).
• Remove from syrup and place on dish to dry.

KOEKSISTERS (SOUTH AFRICAN SYRUP-SOAKED FRITTERS)

Steps:

• Prepare syrup the day before making the koeksisters and chill thoroughly.
• Dissolve sugar in water over medium heat.
• Add spices and knob of ginger.
• Boil together for 10 minutes.
• Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl.
• Rub in butter finely, add beaten eggs with enough milk to blend into a stiff dough.
• Chill dough in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Roll out to 5 mm (1/4 inch?) thick and cut into strips approximately 70 x 30 mm (3 x 1 inches).
• With a sharp knife, cut each strip into 3 smaller ones, leaving them attached at one end.
• Plait (braid) loosely and pinch ends to secure.
• Drop a few at a time into hot oil.
• Cook until lightly-browned and puffed.
• Lift out and drain for just 1 minute of crumpled paper towels, then drop at once into chilled syrup.
• Soak in syrup, lift out and drain in a sieve until dry.
• Note: I'm sure my cousin got a larger yield than this, she made hers very small and dainty.
• You can make them the size that suits your needs and aesthetics.
• I like them small and dainty, but that's the only way I've ever had them.