The holy month of Ramadan is upon us, with Muslims around the globe embarking on the month-long spiritual period. So, too, household cooks are preparing special treats for boeka (or ifthar), for their family members to break their fast with, daily. Why not try these recipes to ensure you are fully prepared for this period.
Daltjies (Chilli bites)
Ingredients:
- 3 cups pea flour
- 1 cup self-rising flour
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- 2 tsp Packo masala
- 2 tsp chilli powder
- 2 tsp jeera
- 1½ tsp tumeric
- 2 tsp baking powder
- green chillies to taste
- ½ bunch spinach leaves, shredded
- 2 onions, chopped
Method:
1. Sift pea flour and self-rising flour and add spices.
2. Add garlic, onion and spinach, and mix with enough water to make a thick batter.
3. Stir in baking powder before deep frying dessert spoonfuls of batter until golden brown.
4. Once fried, drain on paper towel and serve warm.
Sweetcorn fritters
Ingredients:
- 1 x 420 g sweetcorn can
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 egg
- 2 cups self-rising flour
Method:
1. Empty contents of sweetcorn in mixing bowl.
2. Add vanilla essence and sugar.
3. Sift in flour and mix.
4. Stir in beaten egg.
5. Either deep fry or shallow fry.
6. Sprinkle shallow fried fritters with cinnamon sugar or alternatively roll deep fried puffs in cinnamon sugar.
Date and walnut loaf
Ingredients:
- 500 g dates
- 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 2 cups boiling water
- 375 g butter
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla essence
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup walnuts
- pinch of salt
Method:
1. Place dates in a bowl and add the bicarbonate of soda.
2. Cover dates with two cups of boiling water and allow to cool.
3. In a separate bowl cream butter, sugar, vanilla essence and slightly beaten eggs.
4. Add flours, salt and baking powder to creamed mixture and blend thoroughly.
5. Lastly add dates, with water, and nuts and mix thoroughly.
6. Pour batter into two lined, greased loaf pans and bake for 1½ hours at 150 °C or until skewer inserted comes out clean.
Hertzoggies
Ingredients:
- 250 g butter
- 1 egg
- 4 cups cake flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 100 g fine coconut
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 cardamon pods
- apricot jam
Method:
1. Filling – Boil water, sugar and cardamom until sugar has dissolved and add the coconut. Cook a further three to five minutes and set aside to cool.
2. Dough – Cream butter and sugar.
3. Add oil and essence and mix.
4. Add the egg and beat well.
5. Sift in flour and baking powder and mix to firm dough.
6. Roll dough using wax paper; cut with a fluted cutter and place in patty pans.
7. Spoon approximately a teaspoon coconut filling in half of each cup.
8. Bake at 180 °C for 15 to 20 minutes, or until done.
9. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
10. Once cooled spoon apricot jam next to coconut filling.
