Alternative names | Fatcake |
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Type | Bread |
Course | Starter course |
Place of origin | South Africa |
Main ingredients | Flour, salt, sugar and yeast |
Variations | Polony, chips, cheese ( cheddar) |
Vetkoek ( /ˈfɛtkʊk/, Afrikaans: [ˈfɛtkuk]) is a traditional South African fried dough bread. The vetkoek forms a part of South African culture. It is similar to the Caribbean Johnny cake, the Dutch oliebol, and the Mexican sopaipillas. [1] It is also known by the Xhosa and Zulu name igwinya (plural amagwinya). [2] [3]
The word vetkoek literally means "fat cake" in Afrikaans. It is similar in shape to a doughnut without a hole, and is made with a yeast dough. Vetkoeks are also often made alongside a curry mince, which is stuffed inside. Vetkoek is commonly sold at family-owned takeaway restaurants and African festivals and cultural events.
Vetkoek is a popular meal for many people living in South Africa where it is served plain or with a filling and is hot and is sold by a wide variety of small trading businesses, hawkers at taxi ranks, roadside vendors, and fast food shops located throughout South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.