Mandazi - Rwandan Doughnuts

To continue my reading/baking Africa in 2016 project, I recently read Our Lady of the Nile by Scholastique Mukasonga, set in a Catholic girls school in the mountains of Rwanda right before the genocide. Doughnuts get mentioned frequently, the food the girls crave when they're away from home. The mothers send them food in suitcases, including:

“...For the city girls, doughnuts of every color under the sun - a secret Swahili recipe...."

I'm not sure if this recipe, found on the Compassion International website, is the doughnuts they mention, but this is simpler than most doughnuts - a quick batter, a short rest, a shallow fry.

Mandazi


Ingredients:

• 1 egg, beaten
• ½ c. sugar
• ½ c. milk
• 2 tbsp. butter, melted
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 c. white flour
• ½ c. cooking oil, plus more as needed
• powdered sugar for sprinkling (optional) 

Mix together the egg, sugar, milk, butter and baking powder. Slowly mix in the flour, forming dough that’s soft but not sticky. Add more flour if needed.

With a rolling pin, roll the dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s about ¼-inch thick. Let it stand about 20 minutes, then cut it into 12-15 triangles.

Heat the oil in a skillet. Place the triangles in oil over medium heat and fry until both sides are golden brown. Remove to drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.