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Meat, Africa and overseas

Vetkoek with curry mince

Vetkoek are South African fried breads filled with a mild curry beef mince. This recipe serves 4, takes 70 minutes, is rated medium difficulty, and costs €2.40 per person. The key is frying oil at the right temperature and a filling dry enough that it won't soak through the bread.

Tonight, South African vetkoek, those golden fried breads stuffed with a mild curry mince.

Vetkoek with curry mince
Total time
1 h 10
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€2.40
Calories per person
700 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

Vetkoek are fried breads with a golden, crisp crust and a soft inside, split open and stuffed like a sandwich. Here they're filled with a beef mince seasoned with mild curry, with grated carrots adding softness and a touch of sweetness under the gentle warmth of the spices.

This is the kind of dish to make on a Sunday, when you have time to let the dough rise and shape it at your own pace. Kids love getting their hands in the dough and shaping the balls themselves. Serve it all with a crisp green salad to balance out the fried, indulgent side of the meal.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Wheat flouroften in the pantry 400 g
  • Dry yeastoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Mild curry powderoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Frying oiloften in the pantry 50 cl
  • Saltoften in the pantry 2 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Butcher

  • Ground beef 500 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Carrots 2
  • Garlic 2 cloves
  • Green salad 1

Allergens Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, a pinch of salt and about 25 cl of warm water, knead and let rise under a kitchen towel. 45 min

    The dough should double in size, in a warm spot.

  2. Meanwhile, sauté the sliced onion and garlic, add the ground beef and grated carrots. 10 min

    Let the meat brown well before stirring it.

  3. Add the curry powder, salt, pepper and a small glass of water, then simmer until the filling is dry. 10 min

    The filling should be moist but not runny, otherwise it soaks through the bread.

  4. Shape the dough into 8 balls, flatten them slightly and fry them in hot oil, turning them over. 12 min

    Fry them in two batches, too many balls at once will drop the oil temperature.

  5. Cut each vetkoek in half, fill with the meat and serve with the salad.

    Drain the breads on paper towels before filling them.

Our tips to get it right

  • Knead the dough for at least 5 minutes until it turns elastic, that's what gives you a well aerated crumb once fried.
  • Grate the carrots finely so they cook through at the same time as the meat without making the filling too wet.
  • Keep the filling slightly warm when you stuff the breads, it spreads more easily and won't make the crust soggy.

The variations

  • Swap the beef mince for ground lamb for a stronger flavor, closer to some traditional versions.
  • For a vegetarian version, fill the vetkoek with mashed red beans seasoned with curry instead of the meat.
  • For kids or a busy night, shape smaller balls, they fry faster and eat like stuffed fritters.

What to serve it with

  • Crisp green salad
  • Mild mango chutney
  • Rooibos tea or iced tea

Storage

The meat filling keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container and reheats well in a pan. The fried breads are best eaten the same day, they lose their crispness as they cool. The filling alone freezes well for up to 2 months.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it the day before and let it rise slowly in the fridge. Take it out an hour before shaping so it comes back to room temperature.

Can you bake the vetkoek instead of frying them?

Frying is what gives vetkoek their signature golden crust. Baked, the result will be closer to a regular bread roll, without that particular crispness.

How do you know the oil is at the right temperature?

Drop a small piece of dough in, it should rise to the surface with a gentle sizzle. If the oil is smoking, it's too hot and the breads will burn before cooking through.

Can you swap the mild curry for a different one?

Yes, a spicier curry works well if the whole family enjoys heat. Add it gradually so the filling stays pleasant for kids too.

How long does it take to make some vetkoek with curry mince?

Count 1 h 10 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in some vetkoek with curry mince?

About 700 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does some vetkoek with curry mince cost?

About €2.40 per serving, or €9.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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