Mandazi or Mahamri – is there any difference?

 Mandazi (also known as Maandazi/Ndao and sometimes called Mahamri or Mamri) are East African doughnuts. They are also very popular for breakfast with Chai, or as a snack during the day. Often one can see vendors selling them in the street where they are made as the customer waits. As to whether there is a difference between mandazis and mahamris, the major difference is that mahamris use plain flour and yeast while mandazis use self-raising flour and no yeast (at least that is the difference in Kenya).

Mandazi

Recipe:

Mandazi

1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
2 cups white flour
2 tsp. baking powder

Bring all ingredients to room temperature before mixing them together. Mix all the ingredients together, adding more flour if necessary. The dough should be soft, but not sticky. Roll the dough on a lightly floured board until it is about 1/4 inch think. Cut into triangles and fry in hot oil. Fry until both sides are golden brown. Remove mandazi from oil and drain on paper towels or newspaper. Mandazi are best served warm.

Mandazi

Variations:

* Sprinkle some powdered sugar over the hot mandazi.
* Put some white sugar into a bag, add a couple mandazi, and shake the bag to cover the mandazi with sugar.
* Add about a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, ginger, all-spice, or cardamom to the dough or a combination of these spices to total a 1/2 teaspoon.
* Use a circular donut cutter to make mandazi in the shape of traditional donuts.
* Substitute pineapple, orange, or lemon juice for the milk.
* Add some shredded coconut to the dough.
* Add ground peanuts or ground almonds to the dough.
* You may substitute 1 teaspoon dry yeast for the 2 teaspoons baking powder. You will want to allow the mandazi to rise before cutting shapes and frying.