Pumpkin fritters are a delicious South African dish, quick to make and with the flavour of traditional South African food. Influences on South African food are wide and varied including Dutch, French, Portuguese, French, Malay, Moroccan and Indian.

 

Many dishes combine exotic seasoning and aromatic spices, giving them a special South African quality. These delectable fritters are no exception, and the fritters can be served with a savoury dish, or with sugar and cinnamon as a dessert.

 

Ingredients

Fresh pumpkin can be roasted or boiled and then mashed. It is important to ensure that the pumpkin is dry, so drain carefully.

 

2 cups cooked pumpkin

½ cup plain flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 ½ tsps baking powder

1 tbs sugar

2 eggs

Vegetable oil for frying

 

Savoury version:

Add half a cup of cooked sweet corn kernels – if you use tinned, make sure they are well drained.

 

Sweet version:

1 tsp ground cinnamon

3 tsps sugar

 

Method

Beat eggs and add to pumpkin and mix.

Add the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar.

Beat well to make a soft batter.

For savoury pumpkin fritters, stir in the sweet corn now.

Heat your oil in a frying pan.

On medium heat, drop in a tablespoonful of batter and fry until lightly brown before turning.

Several fritters can be cooked at once, but leave space for them to bubble and expand. They are cooked when they are golden brown and feel spongy.

Absorb the oil on a paper towel or serviette.

For sweet pumpkin fritters, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle over the warm fritters.

 

Serve immediately, and enjoy!