Koeksisters

There are few eats that are as quintessentially South African as koeksisters, a deep-fried and syrup-coated doughnut that is twisted like a plait.

Koeksisters are of Cape Malay origin but, unlike the original spicy and coconut-covered version, is crispy and syrupy and very sweet.

The secret to a great koeksister is in the syrup which must be freezing cold when you dip the piping hot fried dough, and each individual syrup recipe is usually a closely guarded secret that remains in the family for years.  Just like mine.

So while I’m not going to give you my secret syrup recipe, I will tell you that I use fresh ginger, fresh lemon and rooibos tea for an amazing syurp that is not quite so sweet but every bit as yummy!

the dough