Pumpkin Fritters From South Africa
Easy Recipe for Savoury Pumpkin Side Dish or Sweet Dessert
Oct 15, 2008
Pumpkin fritters are quick to make and give a flavour of traditional South African food. The influences on South African food are wide and varied including Portuguese, Dutch, French, Moroccan and Indian.
Many dishes combine exotic seasoning and aromatic spices, giving them a special South African quality. These delectable fritters are no exception, and this easy recipe is bound to become a favourite with children and adults alike.
Pumpkin as a Dessert , a Side Vegetable or an Appetizer
Pumpkin fritters can be sweet or savoury. They are delicious when fried to a golden perfection, covered with sugar and cinnamon and bursting with flavour. Serve these with coffee as a snack ,or as a dessert.
Savoury pumpkin fritters are made with the same basic recipe and are the perfect vegetable partner for a spicy lentil dish or served as an unusual appetizer.
Pumpkin Fritters
Makes about 22
Ingredients
Fresh pumpkin can be roasted or boiled and then mashed. It is important to ensure that the pumpkin is dry so drain carefully.
- 2 cups cooked pumpkin
- ½ cup plain flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tsps baking powder
- 1 tbs sugar
- 2 eggs
- Vegetable oil for frying
For the sweet version:
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tsps sugar
For the savoury version:
- Half a cup of cooked sweet corn kernels
Method
- Beat eggs and add to pumpkin and mix.
- Add the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar.
- Beat well to make a soft batter. This works best in a food processor to get a really smooth batter.
- For savoury pumpkin fritters, stir in the sweet corn.
- In a frying pan, heat the oil.
- Over a medium heat, drop in a tablespoonful of batter and fry until lightly brown before turning to fry the other side.
- Several fritters can be cooked at the same time, but leave space for them to bubble and expand. They are cooked when they feel spongy and are golden brown.
- Place on kitchen paper towel to absorb the oil.
- For sweet pumpkin fritters, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle over the warm fritters.
- Serve immediately.
Choosing the Best Pumpkin to Make Fritters
Pumpkins grow in many regions of South Africa and are harvested for their delicious flesh which is transformed into a variety of sweet and savoury dishes.
There are so many varieties of pumpkins to choose from, but some have rather stringy or watery flesh. For pumpkin fritters choose smaller pumpkins – Baby bear, Crown prince, Sweet Dumpling and Sweet Mama would all be suitable for this easy recipe. Cinderella pumpkins are the traditional shape and colour and work just as well.
Don't forget to save the pumpkin seeds to make delicious healthy snacks.
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