How to Make the Perfect Ugandan Mandazi

September 27, 2020September 28, 2020 ~ Sophie ~ 12 Comments

Lemon zest flavored Mandazi recipe that is sure to guarantee you amazing mandazi every single time!

Guys, you know that my love for mandazi is unrivaled. In fact, if I had not named this blog A Kitchen in Uganda, I would have gone with mandaziloveaffair or something around those lines. Yes, that love is real and so here I am, again, with another Mandazi recipe. I have shared Mandazi here and here before but never a classic mandazi recipe. You know the one with the trusty lemon zest for flavoring. Mandazi are life savers and are not celebrated enough to be honest! I cannot recall the number of times I have had a pack of Mandazi on me for emergency situations while running errands in Kampala. Tell me, can you make Mandazi without looking at a recipe? This recipe is sure to guarantee you amazing mandazi every single time.

What you will need:

4 C. All purpose flour

1/4 C. Flour for flouring the surface and rolling dough

8 Tbsp. Sugar

2 C. Water

2 Tbsp. Butter/Margarine at room temperature

1 Tsp. Baking powder OR 1/4 Tsp. Baking Soda

1 Tsp. Lemon zest

1/2 Tsp. Ground Cloves (optional)

1 Tsp. Vanilla essence

A pinch of salt

Oil for frying

Observations:

The water should be cold.
Make sure your oil is not very hot because this will cause the mandazi to burn before cooking through.
Cloves and lemon zest give the mandazi a warm and citrusy flavor.
If you are using less oil, make sure to flip the mandazi occasionally so the dough is fully cooked through.

Method

In a clean bowl, sift flour and baking powder.
Add salt, cloves, lemon zest and sugar and mix well.
Rub in the butter till the flour becomes coarse.
Mix the vanilla in water. Add water to the flour and mix till a firm dough forms.
Knead the dough for about 2 minutes until it is no longer sticking to your hands. Set aside to rest for ten minutes.
After 10 minutes, flour your surface and roll out the dough to about 1 inch thickness. Cut out rectangular shapes from the dough. OR divide the dough into 10 -12 equal parts and form round-shaped balls.
Place a pan of frying oil on medium heat. Let the oil heat through. Fry the mandazi in batches of 4-5 for about 7 minutes or until risen and golden brown. Makes 10+.

In the coming weeks I will be sharing a modified version of this mandazi in true AKIU fashion. Stay tuned.

Use #AkitchenInUg to share your creations.

How to Make Kachumbali

July 9, 2019July 15, 2019 ~ Sophie ~ 1 Comment

It always fascinates me how the world is so interconnected in so many ways. You will almost find a variation of a certain food in each region. Kachumbali which is an east African staple has roots in India and the south America with just a few modifications. I personally love kachumbali because it is easy to put together and it adds a refreshing flavor and texture to any meal you eat it with. The spiciness of the raw onion coupled with the freshness of raw tomatoes and a sprinkle of lemon/lime juice for a sour punch is just all you need to elevate your meal. Today I am sharing with you my version of kachumbali because I really enjoy making it and adding other delicious elements like mangoes and cucumbers. Now Imagine with me if you will, the cooling refreshing sensation that comes with biting into a cucumber, the sweet slightly tart juicy tomato and the prickly spiciness of raw onion coming together with a touch of lemon juice, salt and mild heat from black pepper into a bowl of deliciousness. The ultimate game changer to any meal. You think your posho and beans are bland, add a tablespoon of kachumbali and all of a sudden flavor is enhanced! You cannot handle the heat in your chicken curry, add a tablespoon of kachumbali to cool it down! You think your katogo is comfortable? Good for you but I love adding a tablespoon of kachumbali to awaken all the goodness. Need I say more?

Here is a video to guide you in making your own kachumbali

How do you make your kachumbali?

Make sure to tag me (#AkitchenInUg) in your creations.

My Vegetarian Kitchen Cookbook is Finally Here!

June 27, 2019 ~ Sophie ~ 1 Comment

Hello Friends! It’s been a minute. I have been up to so much lately and as you can tell form the blog title I have a surprise for you! Been working on compiling the blog’s best vegetarian offerings which you can now get as an e-book. I have always wanted to write a cookbook and I have said it multiple times. Putting together this e-book helped alight my goals and gave me a taste of what it feels to put a valuable product out there in world. I am now so excited to be sharing this token of love with you!

Get ‘My Vegetarian Kitchen: 34 Delicious and Wholesome Dishes from A Kitchen in Uganda’.

With most of A Kitchen in Uganda’s food stories vegetarian celebrations, there are so many exciting, memorable and valuable dishes that have been created on the blog for the past 5+ years. This book is a compilation of some of the best of those dishes. The purpose for this book is that you can always have these creations whether you have access to the blog or not.

Who is this book for?

Whether it is planning a big gathering, needing an instant dish to satiate your cravings or looking for an idea for your next potluck or food business idea, this book is for you.

This book is for the vegetarian and/or foodie who would love to explore the endless possibilities that come with using less mainstream local produce and ingredients.

This book is for the creative ‘thinking-out-of-the-box’ individual who wants to make their food journey a little more exciting and fulfilling at the same time with ingredients that are easily accessible.

This book for the Ugandan and anyone on the continent of Africa that has to battle with the government imposed social media taxes. My blog has thrived because of the unlimited access to the internet that I have enjoyed and I realize this is not the same story for everyone which is why I took the time to compile these recipes so that you can have them at the tip of your fingertips with or without the internet!

What is inside this 77 page book: