SOUTH AFRICA - Koeksisters in the Cape

Koeksisters in the Cape

Now, if you’ve got a sweet tooth, then these are just for you!!

We found these delicacies mainly down towards Capetown and the Cape Peninsula.

The first ones we tried were the twisty version, chilled and drizzled in syrup, they were a bit sweet for my liking.

  

However, we then found this lovely little café in the BoKaap district of Cape Town that served up fresh Koeksisters. Similar to a donut with cinnamon and aniseed, and sprinkled with coconut they were delicious!!!

The Bo Kaap district is a colourful little area of Cape Town also known as the Malay district. During Apartheid, the coloured and Asian people lived in this area, not moved to the outskirts like the black population. Today it is the area where the majority of people are Muslim, with numerous mosques, Indian shops and cafes and beautiful brightly coloured houses.

District Six is another area of Cape Town steeped in history. It was originally where freed slaves, labourers, artisans and immigrants from all over the world settled in the Cape, and lively communities of Jews, Asians, Indians and Malays developed. As the more prosperous people moved to the suburbs, the area became neglected and run down.   In 1966, under the Group Areas Act of 1950, District 6 was declared a White Group Area. Its prime location was attractive for redevelopment, so the process of forced removals began. Bulldozers moved in, and over the next 16 years more than 60,000 people were removed and their houses flattened. The crazy thing is that since then, very little development has taken place and the majority of the land lies barren and empty!!

The District Six museum tells the story of the area. In the museum is a fantastic little tea room – Sweet Memories, selling coffees, teas, samosas and Koeksisters. Lining the walls are beautiful cloths embroidered with the favourite recipes of some the ladies who once lived in the district. Many of them are now employed in the museum and tea room.

From there I found a recipe for Koeksisters, which I’m sure will be very tasty!!

Koeksisters Recipe

500ml plain flour

100ml Self Raising flour

100ml sugar

5ml salt

10ml ground ginger

5ml ground cinnamon

5ml ground cardamon

10ml ground aniseed

1 egg

125ml sunflower oil

50ml cold milk

250ml hot water

20ml dried yeast

For syrup –

500ml sugar

750ml oil

150ml coconut

Method

Sift flour, mix with sugar and salt

Add spices

Rub in 125ml oil

Dissolve yeast with some water/mil
Mix water, egg, yeast mixture and remaining milk and mix with flour to make a soft dough

Rub oil over dough

Cover and set aside to rise again

Heat oil in saucepan and fry koeksisters for about 5 mins both sides

Drain

Meanwhile boil sugar & oil together to make syrup

Drizzle syrup over koeksisters and sprinkle with coconut.

Enjoy!!