Koeksisters
SYRUP:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water 1 cinnamon stick
DOUGH:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ cup sour milk (maas) or plain yoghurt
½ cup milk
2 tbs butter
1 cup desiccated coconut (optional) vegetable oil for deep frying
Mix flour and baking powder.
Use your fingers to rub the butter into the flour. It should resemble breadcrumbs.
Add the sour milk (maas) or plain yoghurt. Add the milk.
Mix well to form a dough. Sprinkle flour on a surface and knead the dough until smooth.
Place it in a lightly greased bowl and cover with cling wrap.
Rest the dough for an hour or more.
While the dough is resting, make cinnamon stick in a small pot.
Stir on medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Lower the heat and allow the syrup to simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
The dough should be softer and expanded in size after resting. Divide into 8 pieces.
Take each piece and divide it into 3 equal parts to make the plait.
Using your palm, roll the 3 pieces into rope-like shapes of equal length.
Pinch the top of the 3 ropes together.
Plait by taking the far-right rope over the middle rope, then the far-left rope over the middle rope, continuing until you reach the end. Pinch the ropes together to seal.
Fry the plaits in hot oil until golden.
They will puff up.
Place on a paper towel to drain the excess oil.
Soak the braids in the syrup for about 3 minutes on each side. Served as is or toss them in desiccated coconut.
These koeksisters last up to a week in an airtight container.
Makes 8 koeksisters.