 Vetkoek filled with ground beef | |
| Alternative names | Fatcake |
|---|---|
| Type | Bread |
| Course | Starter course |
| Place of origin | South Africa |
| Main ingredients | Flour, salt, sugar and yeast |
| Variations | Polony, chips, cheese (cheddar) |
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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.
